Training on Solar Ovens (1 full day, offered twice)

Keywords: Solar energy, water sterilization, solar cookers, desertification, women’s health, fuel efficiency

The aim of the training on solar ovens was to demonstrate an alternative and sustainable method of cooking foods.

The training lasted for two days. On the first day at Mandat International a video was shown on the construction of a simple cardboard solar oven. Different models of solar cookers were set up and various foods were cooked in the solar ovens: chicken, quinoa, vegetables, rice and black beans. As there were few participants on the first day, the organisers decided to bring the cookers to the KCG conference centre. The solar ovens were set up in front of the centre where there was beautiful sun, perfect for demonstrating the operation of the cookers. Food cooked with the sun was offered to participants at the Forum as they walked in and out of the conference building and literature about it was distributed. The next day the construction of two models of solar cookers was demonstrated: a longer-lasting wooden model and a simple lightweight cardboard model.

We discovered a simple way of sterilizing water by painting the bottom half of a plastic bottled filled with water and leaving it in the sun for 8 hours. Conference participants were amazed at the delicious flavour of solar cooked dishes. Apart from not having to use any other source of fuel, the use of solar cookers frees time for other activities. It is also better for women’s health as they are thus no longer exposed to the dangers involved in collecting wood on sometimes-difficult terrain, nor do they inhale harmful smoke and oil vapours while cooking. In addition, food is more nutritious and preserves more of its vitamins.

It is cooked more gently and does not burn. A problem arose on the second day as it rained, and there was no sun to demonstrate the efficiency of the cookers.

In sum, it was shown that the use of solar cookers and solar water sterilisation methods constitute important tools: to fight desertification due to overuse of wood for cooking fuel; to prevent diarrhoeal diseases due to the consumption of contaminated water, and to free women’s time for activities other than collecting wood for fuel and cooking for hours. More attention should be given to such good practices for sustainable development.

Training coordinators

Maria Peñaloza

Beby Ramanissa (Women’s World Summit Foundation)

Presenters

Mr. and Mrs Roland Baumann (JOMGA 21 / Mandat International)

A list of information can be found on the web by doing a search on solar cookers. People can contact the coordinator, Maria Peñaloza, mariavh2000@yahoo.com, for information of various organizations involved in providing local training in the construction and use of solar cookers.