[Stoves] integrating stoves and development

[rbtvl at aol.com]

In my work with the Maasai in East Africa, I am very concerned that the stove development not only help with health, conservation, and women's labor.  I also want the procurement and labor related to the stoves to result in money circulation in the local economies.    Quality in manufacturing must be a goal, but we must accept the challenge to accomplish this without all the economic stimulation occurring in Asia.    Creating distribution businesses for imported finished items is not enough.   We need commerce, manufacturing, skill development, procurement, production to develop along with the stoves.   That is integrated stove development.

It is more effort.  But the accomplishments of local people and their excitement, satisfaction, and energy makes it more than worthwhile.  also we get better stoves!

Collectively we claim as a goal the empowerment of women.   That has to be more than having women be active in distribution companies for imported finished goods.   Our work with the Maasai shows no limit to the appreciation of women when brought into all aspects of the stove development and distribution effort.   The Maasai women have said "people don't come to our communities normally and show that we women can be involved in new things, can accomplish difficult tasks like these."     The women can learn why the stoves are designed as they are, can be involved in field development, and can learn about the measurement of smoke and carbon monoxide.

We found, for example, that our stove was not physically stable under the vigorous stirring that occurs in the cooking of "ugali" a corn meal dish.      the pot moved around too much, and smoke leakage around the pot became severe..   It meant sitting in the houses with the women and cooking ugali alongside them, looking at their solutions to the problem and then working with them, and local craftspeople, to make the stove adequate in this way.

Field development is our key.  Not just field testing.  Stoves and development.  True women's empowerment.  Economic stimulation.   Increasing industrial strength.

Bob

Robert V. Lange
the ICSEE
508  735 9176
www.maasaistovessolar.org




we don't want the econonic stimulation to flow to Asia except for the creation of distribution businesses.