Our mission is to provide humanitarian assistance to the poorest and most needy people. Since many of these people live in Africa, we have chosen to begin our work there. Most food must be cooked and since most people in the world lack an improved stove and adequate fuel, we have chosen to help with this problem. Our solution is the Six Brick Rocket Stove. The Rocket Stove uses one half of the fuel of the open fire and produces one quarter of the emmissions. Other cooking technologies such as the insulated cooking box and solar cooking are also considered. We believe that everyone should have clean and warm indoor air. No one should breath detrimental substances or freeze to death (or even suffer from the cold).
Contact Information
Our Focus
Aid Africa is working with subsistence farmers in the small villages outside Gulu in Northern Uganda. There are 1.2 million people living in these villages. They were forced to live in IDP camps for twenty-two years, driven from their homes, their possessions stolen, and their relatives kidnapped and killed. Now they have arrived back home in the most desparate of circumstances. Before being displaced to the camps, their socio-economic status was varied but they were mostly subsistence farmers living in small groups or villages.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
No one wants to change their traditional ways. But people in refugee camps recognize immediately that the Rocket Stove helps them. It uses less fuel meaning they may be able to cook their food on the few roots and twigs that they can find close by. They need to gather only half as much fuel as before. This means fewer trips outside their villages with less risk of death or bodily harm. Also the stove is safer. If you set your roof on fire while cooking, it is likely that the entire family compound will burn down. This is an often repeated tragedy that can be minimized by the use of the Rocket Stove.
With people decamped to their traditional villages, we have a unique opportunity to teach a new cooking technology to a lot of people who are motivated to learn it. The people are eager to learn about anything that will improve their lives.
Standardization is necessary for two reasons. First, certain designs are better than others and they will be preferred. The market place will eventually decide what is the best design. Secondly, only with standardization can something be mass produced in a quantity that will make a significant difference. One billion cooking stoves are needed in the world. Why should they be made one at a time? (Henry Ford didn't think so).
Studied people know that pollution is detrimental to health. Reducing pollution is good. While future research in understanding pollution and it's effects is worthwhile, the important task is to actually reduce this pollution. Someday, with our continued research and development, perfect stoves might exist, ones with no pollution and no danger. But in the meantime millions of people will benefit from the already existing stove technology. It is our intent to introduce stoves that exist now so that people may begin to benefit now.
Relevant Publications or Studies
Most of our information exists at the REPP Stoves site . Please see our website here: aidafrica.net
Our Contribution to the Partnership
As we continue to expand, we hope to help other people and other groups with our skills and knowledge. Collaboration with other groups is welcomed. We will help anybody any way we can.
