Our mission is to provide humanitarian assistance to the poorest and most needy peoples. Since many of these people live in Africa we have chosen to begin our work there. Since 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 to introduce the Rocket Stove. The Rocket Stove uses one half of the fuel of the open fire and produces one half of the fumes from that one half amount of fuel. 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
Aid africa is working in IDP refugee camps in Northern Uganda. There are almost two million people living in these camps. Because they have been driven from their homes,their possessions stolen, and their relatives kidnapped and killed, they have arrived at 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. Since our work in Uganda is progressing well, we plan to expand our work to the camps in Darfur, Sudan where two million more refugees live under similar or worse conditions.
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 and this means that they may be able to cook their food on the few roots and twigs that they can find. They need to gather only half as much fuel as before. This means fewer trips outside the camp, less risk of death or bodily harm from the rebels. Also the stove is safer. If you set your roof on fire while cooking, it is likely that the entire camp will burn down. This is an often repeated tragedy that can be minimized by the use of the Rocket Stove.
The concentration of people in a refugee camp provides a unique opportunity to teach a new cooking technology to a lot of people who are motivated to learn it. When they return to their land they will undoubtedly return with this information and technology.
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 by standardization can something be mass produced in a quantity in which it will make a 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. The basics of this are understood. While future research in understanding pollution and it's effects is worthwhile, the important task is in actually reducing 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 now exist 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
Our Contribution to the Partnership
As we continue to expand we hope to help other peoples and other groups with our skills and knowledge. Corroboration with other groups is welcomed. We will help anybody any way we can.
