abstract
| - From their website's introduction; "Solar Cooking KoZon's main objective is to promote integrated solar cooking and the use of clean energy at the lowest possible cost. To achieve this we choose a business approach, whereby women are encouraged to participate in the local economy." __TOC__ The introduction of the CooKit was the start of SCN-KoZon projects. The weather conditions seemed to be changing and gradually it became clear the CooKit needed to be combined with other wood saving technologies, such as hay basket, heat-saving ovens, the more expensive solar box cooker, and the parabolic cooker for collective use. Together with water pasteurization we call this: Integrated Sustainable Solar Cooking (ISSC) [aka Integrated Cooking Method]. Solar Cooking NL is involved as well in the development of a high temperature cooker to bake injera (type of pancake). In addition to use of the CooKit we also provide information about the use of a hay basket, where the cooking process can be finished. Although wood-saving stoves are not really part of solar cooking, we do provide information about them where relevant. The term Integrated Sustainable Solar Cooking (ISSC) refers to a combination of the three elements, CooKit, hay basket and wood-saving stove. After more then 4 years of experience with our projects, Solar Cooking Netherlands adjusts its vision and points of departure. The most important points out of our report Integrated Solar cooking and Water Pasteurization a Conceptual Framework, introduced by the foundation Solar Cooking Netherlands in December 2008 [Thomas et al]:
* SCN-KoZon will stimulate quality of life for poor African women and
* In the same time contribute to environmental protection
* SCN-KoZon will create possibilities for local initiatives and entrepreneurship through introduction of solar cooking and other sustainable resources of energy for cooking, food cultivation and water purification for mother and child
* With this all SCN-KoZon give support to diminish the deforestation in this African countries. SCN-KoZon tries to reach the mentioned goals through:
* to focus on the families with the lowest income
* to develop strategies and resources of Integrated Sustainable Cooking, food processing and water purification through which they become available SCN-KoZon chairwoman Clara Thomas is currently organizing follow-up meetings with new solar cooks to collect feedback and discuss challenges and success. According to Ms. Thomas, evaluation and adaptation are essential. "In this way," she says, "a tradition of thousands of years of firewood cooking can be transformed to solar cooking with purely the sun as heat source." At least one woman in the Hagaz village seems already convinced. Of her experiences thus far, she says, "We prepare goat, rice, lentils and shiro in the CooKit and the taste is excellent!"
|