| abstract
| - We have trained 119 grandmothers in Lesotho who are using Sun Stoves to cook meals for themselves and for their grandchildren, to dry fruit, prepare vegetables for canning and, in winter, to heat water for bathing. A Basotho recipe book is in the works. Most of the grandmothers live in rural settings with little access to large shops and food variety. Most have a small garden of some kind, but very limited food supplies. Last November we met our first 25 grandmothers who live in a suburb of the capital city Maseru. While they have more exposure to and knowledge about other foods and goods, they are very poor and cannot afford the riches they see around them. This November 2010, we met another village group only 17 kilometres outside of the city. This group lives a more communal rural life, sharing the growing and reaping of crops. These grandmothers, a bit younger on average, are also more savvy but live a hard life with few of the amenities available to our host family in town. The basic food for all Basotho is corn meal which is cooked with water. This is the recipe we make on the first day as it is of utmost importance to the grandmothers. On the second day we make a soya mince (an inexpensive protein alternative) with root vegetables and rice. The third day we make bread, which is more like a steamed rather than a baked bread. Each training day starts between 8 & 9 a.m. The food is generally ready by noon when started early, although ideal sun for cooking is usually between 10 and 2:00. The grandmothers take the meal home. On the last day, the grandmothers take home the suntove, pots, hand towel, a mixing bowl and foodstuffs to reproduce the recipes at home. This is our current approach that is successful in Lesotho: 1.
* A respected community member selects the needy grandmothers to receive the number of sunstoves to be provided for that session; 2.
* This community leader provides the gathering location for a three-day training session with access to water and comfort for the trainees and trainers; 3.
* Local Basotho act as translators for most of the communication and assist with the preparation and training. At this stage, the translators are becoming more and more the lead trainers. They will completely take over the training activities in the near future. We also have added a presentation made by a grandmother who was a previous recipient. Needless to say, this is a huge success. 4.
* Three days of hands-on training is provided. Grandmothers call it “school” and are proud to attend. The project provides the necessary food and utensils each day. 5.
* A different local recipe is cooked each day which grandmothers take home. 6.
* A Q&A and discussion session is held each day about life, love, Canada, Lesotho and of course, sunstove use and recipes from other grandmothers. 7.
* Last year, we successfully introduced a very basic 'science' lesson on how to make a sunstove from a cardboard box, tin foil and a piece of glass. The response was amazing. The grandmothers were very quick to understand the concept and a good discussion ensued. A few has also seen tin foil in a grocery store and asked questions about its feasibility. 8.
* On the final day, each Grandmother takes home a sunstove, black pots, food, a personal letter from a Raging Granny or other sponsor in Canada & a ‘graduation’ gift made by one of the Raging Grannies. 9.
* The host grandmothers have now become the “Super Users” who assist other grandmothers with questions and help with the sharing of recipes, ideas and support.
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