Solar Cooking in Kenya

Please read the following article re. solar cooking; a case study recently in Kenya by SCI.

 

The current volunteer programme near Kisumu, Western Kenya has been extremely successful. The 4 girls are currently in the Mara in safari, returning home next week (attached photo). Along with lessons you may already planned we are trying yto help spread the word about solar cooking during our volunteer programs so would appreciate your cooperation.

 

I would also refer you to the Blog and the Food & Money posting, a situation I felt needed more debate.

 

Kindest regards

Alison

 

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Coral holds record of Kenya's past

http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19325945.300&feedId=life_rss20

Food and money

Every different host / orphanage / school will have a different existing arrangement for food. 

Unfortunately, not every volunteer is going to enjoy Kenyan food, or the food normally cooked for the children. Therefore we cannot make a rule that every volunteer pays a certain amount of $$$ a month for food, because many will prefer to choose their own food.

 

What volunteers on the short summer program are told (on the website and in the handbook) is that it will be cheaper for them to buy food themselves, with their hosts. They should discuss meal arrangements according to the specific existing arrangements.

This means if they have to pay to take their hosts with them to the town to buy food then that is their cost. (It will be cheaper if your hosts literally go through the checkout for you as locals are charged much less than "richer visitors").

If they wish to pay their hosts to prepare meals like the children have and anything else they may prefer then that is also their cost. A volunteer must pay for the priviledge of having the food prepared for them. If they want to cook their own meals (in a solar cooker or over a fire) then the price would be cheaper.

 

The problem is that individuality means a general rule cannot be placed.

 

For longer term volunteers, it is acceptable to pay a fixed amount to cover meals and accommodation, bearing in mind they will probably not always eat the same as the children, may go out to eat, may be invited to a locals house to eat, etc. I believe USD$ 200 per month per volunteer is acceptable (including an extra amount to help with anything the orphanage may need).

Shorter volunteering including the Summer Program, accommodation is free at your host.

 

AVIF are aware that volunteers have spent a massive amount of money simply travelling to Kenya. It was their choice to come, but it is still a large amount of time and money they have committed to help the children.

 

AVIF are also aware volunteers will no doubt bring many donated gifts and classroom materials, and will very probably buy more gifts for the children or spend more money on their hosts during the visit.

 

The point being made here, which may differ from a poor, rural Kenyans view, is that people are always more open to help, if they do not feel obliged. Money has a negative effect on people this way.

Volunteering by its pure nature, is a person offering their help. Unfortunately, where financial donations are involved it is very easy to offend someone by asking for too much.

 

Volunteers (assuming hosts have bought the food with them and you are not charged "visitor prices"

should only spend around USD25 a week on food.

This is NOT a fixed amount and emphasis must be made on making clear arrangements at the beginning of your volunteering with YOUR host, according to existing arrangements and your own preferences.

Cassava

Ramon,

I wanted to share this with you, published in New Scientist magazine http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19325915.700&feedId=health_rss20 as I believe solar cookers will do the same job of removing the cyanide. Perhaps you could publish this on the Archives.

If you can't access the article, here's the text below :

New improved cassava recipe removes deadly ingredient
17 February 2007

MILLIONS of people in Africa depend on cassava for food despite an unfortunate bitter ingredient: cyanide.
Although cassava (Manihot esculenta) is processed to remove cyanide, the techniques are not always effective. Commonly the plant is ground into flour and then mixed in boiling water to create a claggy paste, but this only reduces cyanide levels by about 60 per cent. Consequently, each year thousands of children across central and east Africa are struck down by konzo, an irreversible paralysis of the legs.
"Even in a good year in north Mozambique, cyanide levels [in cassava paste] frequently top 45 parts per million, far more than the WHO-recommended 10 ppm," says Howard Bradbury of the Australian National University in Canberra.
Bradbury has now developed a simple technique for removing cyanide that could prevent much of the sickness. Cassava flour is mixed with water, and the dough spread in a layer no more than 1 centimetre thick, and left in the shade for 5 or 6 hours. The process removes almost all of the cyanide (Food Chemistry, vol 101, p 894).
It works by bringing together an enzyme in the plant cell walls with the cyanide-producing compound linamarin in the cytoplasm. The enzyme breaks down the linamarin, releasing hydrogen cyanide gas that then diffuses out.
From issue 2591 of New Scientist magazine, 17 February 2007, page 16

AVIF update 2

To all our prospective volunteers

(This email is being sent to you as you have enquired about the Summer 2007 Volunteer Program or individual programme. Should you no longer be able to attend please let us know immediately as places are limited)

 

Apologies for delays in updates but negotiations are ongoing.

Please keep an eye on the website for progress and events.

 

We have 4 trainee teachers from Nottingham Trent University, UK, currently teaching and mentoring at the Rianna's Furaha (happiness) Childrens Home close to Kisumu right now. The temperature is in the high 20's (80F) and the children are wonderful. The volunteers will update the Blog once they get into the town for internet access, so you can read more about their experience.

 

 

 

AVIF Volunteers will now be assisting with distribution of goods and literature to all our hosts in the effort to eliminate Malaria. Working with KeNAAM (part of the RollBackMalaria initiative hosted by the World Health Organisation) simply by passing on information AVIF Volunteers can help prevent, control and reduce the socio-economic burden of malaria. Educational materials and mosquito nets will be passed around at Orientation in Nairobi.

 

Depending on UK numbers there may be a pre-departure meeting in Harrogate in June, once we know confirmed numbers we will update you.

 

Please forward the e-mailings that BT produce for us "www.buy.at/AVIF" to increase chances of donations. Volunteers overseas may forward the mailings but bear in mind shipping costs.

 

We have signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with 540 Airlines http://www.fly540.com/beta2/ for all internal flights. 540 allow up to 45kg baggage allowance for AVIF Volunteers. We must insist that volunteers travel up-country by air, a much more convenient, faster and safer method of travel, though this cost must be borne yourselves. .. internal flights take 1 hour rather than 6-9 hours by road and cost around GBP60 return. Original plans to transport volunteers by coach can no longer take place due to "Duty of Care" regulations and AVIF cannot currently cover air transportation costs, we hope you understand.

 

Distance-learning for Solar Cookers .. see Plans.pdf at http://solarcooking.org/plans/Plans.pdf

We need all volunteers to study these plans. A full demonstration will be given in Nairobi and all hosts have pre-sourced materials. The volunteers in Kisumu are currently helping to train women staff at the home in the extremely simple methods of cooking using the sun. We have donated cookers and sisal food warmers. You will all be training your hosts in simple construction and use of the Solar "slow-cookers", under the guidance of SCI (Nairobi). SCI Archive site www.solarcooking.org

 

Points to note :

• Woman need to be trained since women do most of the cooking
• We must gain the attention of the elders of each community, for people to follow
• We must be sensitive to how they cook and how solar cooking may affect taste so men need to be involved, since they also may pay for the cooker / build the cooker, and will most definitely eat the food
• For those that rely on gathered firewood instead of purchased wood or charcoal, women and girls usually do most of the fuel collecting. Time saved by women and girls gathering firewood must be given a recognized value, as time to earn money building and re-selling cookers, baking cakes for example.
• Less firewood is needed so solar cooking is saving the forests - Forests mean rain, crops, livestock…money.
• Lack of smoke and soot is essential to lung health for cooks and children.
• Benefits of cookers for pasteurizing milk and water.
• Free to use because the sun's power is great enough to cook their food !
• Women and children can make extra money by using solar cooking to bake birthday cakes.

 

Here are details of SafeMed medical insurance. This is a package discounted for AVIF Volunteers though you may find that your travel insurance covers most of this anyway :

 

Scope of Cover
The Outpatient Cover provides for medical and surgical expenses reasonably incurred by the insured members as a direct result of their sustaining accidental bodily injury and/or illness and/or a disease within the period of insurance. Members of the scheme will have a choice of a medical attendant within our provider network. Treatment will be restricted to medical practitioners registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners & Dentists Board. 
 
Minimed Cover
This is a standard outpatient cover providing access to quality clinics around the country.
Members are entitled to:-

• Outpatient care at selected top quality facilities
• Treatment by medical practitioners registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners & Dentists Board.
• Consultation Fees
• Laboratory and Diagnostic Services
• Dispensing of pharmaceutical drugs
• X-ray
• Physiotherapy Services
• Referral to appropriate specialists
• Surgical dressing when necessitated by accidental body injury or disease
• Physiotherapy fees.

Price at September 2006 Ksh8,550 for Summer Programme period

 

I would recommend taking out Flying Doctor membership (please see Join Us > Safety section on website).

 

For all those not already informed please see the section on Development Education, especially if you are a UK trainee teacher. Preparing for volunteering, volunteering itself and reflecting on the experience on your return are all likely to impact on your teaching.  

 

We are now working with MASTA. They have an online shop and we will be supplying you all with a discount code. MASTA's free travel health guide is attached, if you do not have the Adobe Reader software to open .pdf documents, click here for free safe download http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 

Current allocation list is :

A.
Imani Agape Children's Home
P.O BOX 2768, 40200 KISII KENYA 

B.
JNMCC Mercy Home Orphanage
Mr & Mrs Edward and Deborah Buyengo
Sopwith House PO Box 321 MASENO 40105 KENYA
Ebukuya Primary School

 

C.
NAIROBI

Corrugated iron roof accommodation w/ electricity and cook/cleaner

Close to 3 slum schools

D.
Gem
Rianna's Furaha (happiness) Childrens Home

PO Box 765, Yala

(Kenya/Ugandan border)

 

Ulamba Childrens Home
Person in charge is Asuna number 0734837718

E.
Bondo
Glad Toto school P.O.Box 65 Usenge

Nyayo school P.O.Box 36 Usenge

 

F.

Ambrose Adongo Secondary School

PO Box 1068, Siaya District, South Alego location, 7km from Siaya Town

 

G.

LDK

Virginia M Bueno Centre

School & Orphanage, Nakuru

 

I will not be able to allocate individually for another 2 months but you can study maps to get your bearings. Please bear in mind there are new orphanages being contacted all the time.

 

Spread the word

Take a look at www.tiptheplanet.com

STEREO Eclipse

Awesome !!

 

----- Original Message -----

From: NASA Science News

To: NASA Science News

Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 8:39 PM

Subject: STEREO Eclipse

Subject: STEREO Eclipse
NASA Science News for March 12, 2007

No human has ever witnessed a solar eclipse quite like this: NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft was about a million miles from Earth last month when it photographed the Moon passing in front of the sun. The resulting movie looks like it came from an alien solar system.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12mar_stereoeclipse.htm?list988245

 

Celebrate International Womens Day

 

This email has been sent via AVIF, please forward responsibly International Women's Day is the global day connecting all women around the world inspiring them to achieve their full potential. Women's Day celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future… Kenana Knitters Beautiful handmade gifts made with natural products by women in the rural Kenyan communities which benefit the children within the community by providing an education programme and an income for the women. Mini Chunky Pig £10.99 Monkey Winter Warmer Basket £25.00 Woolly Sheep Tea Cosy and Tea Set £25.00 People Tree People Tree was founded by Safia Minney in 1991. People Tree works with 70 Fair Trade groups in 20 developing countries and provides an escape from poverty through the use of Fair Trade. Jute Cosmetic Case £4.50 Cotton On design shopping bag £4.50 Cuddly Bunny Easter Set £12.00 Wola Nani Wola Nani crafts emerged in response to the need for unemployed, HIV positive woman to generate an income. Through a developmental, self help approach the project's members have been enabled to take greater control of their lives and achieve a better quality of life. Fair Trade Coffee Lovers Gift Hamper £30.00 Papier-mâché Red Lucky Star Bowl £9.00 Fair Trade Chocolate Lovers Gift Hamper £25.00 Craft Aid Craft Aid employs many woman who are the sole bread winners or in a particularly difficult situation. Craft Aid runs a number of workshops and produces many of Traidcraft's cards, sugar and clothing range. Easter Chick Card £2.50 Keen Gardener Card £2.50 Cross and Daisy Card £2.50 Craft Link Craft Link works closely with 47 Artisan groups, involving 5,000 artisans in northern Vietnam, 85% are women. The handicrafts are made of local materials and are shipped to fairtrade organisations around the world providing a steady income for the artisans through fairtrade. Pink Flowers Bag £25.00 Sheep Tape Measure £3.50 Silk and Canvas Bag £45.00 So make a difference with Fair Trade think globally and act locally! Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls and women is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. *free delivery only applies to the mooncup - offer expires 20th March. Activist Gear | Baby | Body & Soul | Books | Bulk Buying | Cards & Stationery | Children | Cleaning & Household | Eco-gadgets | Fashion & Accessories | Food & Drink | Garden & Outdoor | Gifts | Home Decor | Kitchen | World Music & Film About Us | Contact Us | Delivery Services | Sale, returns and shipping items | Special Offers | All FAQ | Trade Partners

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Roll Back Malaria Campaign

AVIF Volunteers will now be assisting with distribution of goods and literature to all our hosts in the effort to eliminate Malaria, in line with Millennium Development Goals 6 and 7 and in attempts to achieve the Abuja targets of reducing malaria mortality and morbidity by 60% before 2010.

Working with KeNAAM (part of the World Health Organisation) we will be disseminating materials for the National Malaria Strategy and Communication.

Simply by passing on information AVIF Volunteers can help prevent, control and reduce the socio-economic burden of malaria. 

 

Small world, it must be. CEO of KeNAAM, Mr Gerald Mwangi Walterfang studied at Leeds University, where he met his wife. (I studied there too and live half an hour away.)

 

 

Thank you, Jacqueline

 

 

Dear Alison, We wanted to share with you an article on Acumen Fund that just appeared in BusinessWeek's "Inside Innovation" supplement (the March 12 issue, now on newsstands).  The story, an extension and update of what was featured in their online magazine last fall, is also up on their website – along with a few web-only features, including slide shows on our investment in drip irrigation and about the Acumen Fund Fellows. We're excited, of course, to be able to share the Acumen Fund message, but more so about the growing interest there seems to be in market-based models for addressing problems of poverty. All the best, Jacqueline Novogratz

Placement review

Info for volunteers

 

We have various projects including solar cooking introduction (please read details on Projects section of website they are very simple and small units which will already be being used but it is ongoing to ensure the cooks are still using them properly), also solar energy panel kit production (details later). You can help with health & hygiene teaching (we are receiving a brief from AMREF on this).

If we have raised funds for computers you can help teach basic IT..

 

We are also talking about projects for sustainable development such as oil production from sunflowers or from local tree seeds, also dairy farming (cattle to provide milk) or goats, etc .. you will help with whatever is ongoing at the time.

 

You can teach at your own schedule and help with whatever stage current construction projects are at. You will be mentor, teacher, friend to the children, playing sports, singing, eating, not "caring" for them in terms of a nanny. You will help cook meals, in solar cookers hopefully, and to tidy up, any way you wish. Teach art, teach creatively, there are kenyan teachers to teach straight maths etc. you will take part in the lives of the children as a whole.

 

The best advice I can give you, is to have an open mind .. nothing is written in stone. AVIF does not operate regimented classes as in ESL positions around the world. This is more of an experience for you all.

 

You will pay your own costs but .. if you wish you can pay the orphanage certainly no more than $200 a month (each) for costs upfront (fuel for electricity generator at orphanage/ firewood / electric to charge phones / cameras etc. & for any meals you have with the children, any transportation you need and fuel for the vehicle.) This price will cover all costs except drinks, bearing in mind you will eat with the children.

You will probably buy your own food too if you do not like the standard meals of rice and beans or maize and ugali (green veg).

 

$200 is only EUR150, or £100 for a whole month of transportation, meals with the children, electricity. This is very reasonable. The actual costs you may incur may be less, but $200 will also cover a donation to the construction of the next building, improvements to the orphanage, etc.

 

If you prefer then you can simply pay out for your costs as you incur them, and make sure you have discussed this with your host first. i.e pay for all taxis, pay for all food .. but you will find that you are charged more if you are paying yourself, than a local ever will be (your hosts). Please bear in mind that some volunteers pay agencies to place them (and may pay $500-$1000) for this, part of which is donated to the orphanage. Other volunteers may pay fees and costs of $300-1000 per person per month for the experience.

 

We believe you have already paid enough to get to Kenya, and in the time you are devoting but you should NOT incur any costs on your hosts.

 

AVIF are only concerned in sustainable development .. giving your host money does not help the children, giving them a way to earn money continually will .. and by doing something that involves the children is even better.

 

Asante & salamu !

Alison Lowndes

Founder Trustee

www.AVIF.Org.UK

VoIP & IM Skype : avif_volunteers_in_kenya

Member of the NCVO & DEA

New Online Webstore

Bookmark our Blog here

HAVE YOU MENTIONED SOLAR COOKING TO ANYONE ?

AVIF is a UK exempt charity able to claim GiftAid HMRC ref. XR99385

Posting for transparency

Alexia (a volunteer),

 

Imani Agape is not a tourist venue. You will have to wash in the river, and be careful not to contract malaria ! The children are orphans amd most have suffered abuse of some form. However they are lucky as they do have support from a US church and mission, who have funded their school fees, clothing and built a new building. Imani Agape are now at a stage where they can help AVIF in a logistical way as well as being a fantastic experience for volunteers.

 

....(part removed for confidentiality) Greed is an unfortunate consequence of success and sometimes clothing and donations to children are sold on for other means. The fact remains that the children are still in need of our non-financial support.

Giving a poor child money will not help them in life.

 

We do not support Imani Agape financially, in fact we only ever pay them for their logistical support e.g. driving / hiring a minibus. Job Manenga is a very trustworthy young man and will go far out of his way to make you comfortable. Money is a different matter but when asked Job will help with anything we need. I value the work he has done for us.

 

Do not get too focused on the dark side of Africa (e.g. The Constant Gardener movie). There is corruption all over Kenya, and Africa. We should be thankful that there are areas in Kenya we can actually travel without fear of being robbed, mugged or killed. Darfur is not so far away !! Security is a serious issue which is high in our priorities, and Imani Agape is a good introduction. From there you can go to stay at the JNMCC, Jehovah Nissi Mercy Childrens Centre in Maseno. Mercy home, ran by Deborah and Edward, and also supported by a US church group are in more need than Imani Agape. ..........(part removed for confidentiality) 

Imani does not have computers or grid electric by the way, Pastor Liston lives nearer to Kisii and has such things, probably because of his salary from Directing the home, but he has worked very hard over the years on behalf of the children, and his wife, and son, Job. He is, however, paid a pittance compared with some larger "aid" organisation salaries. Corporate costs is not something I want AVIF to be covering, I would rather money go directly on sustainable projects.

 

AVIF seeks to keep everything in perspective, and does not simply handout money !

However, be assured we are not blind ! and are currently actively involved in removing a proven corrupt Director from an orphanage in Nakuru, so as to ensure the safety of the children housed there. I do not believe, however, this is something you need to be involved in.

 

Kindest regards

Alison

 

In short

Just a note to mention the potential new projects and partnerships :
These projects require volunteers capable of understanding and creatively working with design principles and materials, teaching skills, and organising/problem-solving/leadership skills. In short, can you put a cooking pot in a plastic bag ?

 

For each project we will have field representatives on hand to help but all training material will be made available before and during workshops, and as part of Orientation.

 

1. Solar-Aid, London for provision of solar energy panels. Check out the videos on http://solar-aid.org/solar-videos/ which tell all about their work in Malawi. We'll hopefully be distributing solar-electricity-generating kits and giving training to host communities. These kits can then be sold at local markets to generate sustainable income.

 

2. BogoLights / distributing solar-powered torches from www.sunnightsolar.com

 

3. Solar Cookers International (CA, USA). www.solarcooking.org 

The "CooKit" is basically a Slow Cooker. I've used a slow cooker for years, they're incredible for retaining moisture, nutrients and flavour. BUT THIS ONE IS POWERED BY THE SUN ! which is, as we know, free. Solar cooking saves precious fuel that rural women sometimes walk up to 10km a day to find. The food cooks unattended while you do other things, the pots are easy to clean with no soot on the outside. They are perfect for pasteurizing milk and water, saving the lives of children.

Even better .. the CooKit can be made with about 1 or 2 US$s worth of materials and an hour or so of labour. Drawings and pictures are available here http://solarcooking.org/plans/Plans.pdf.

 

How incredibly simple and brilliant !

Putting these 3 items together, just think of how much less wood smoke will be in the lungs of the children and rural community.

 

We can make a difference in just one volunteer programme.

Please take part with AVIF

Something a bit different

Today started out by reading through last weeks New Scientist magazine (I'm falling behind due to the new recruitment drive for volunteers).

I started reading about www.ethanzuckerman.com and his fab work in opening the internet up, but also how countries like China are dividing the internet more and more. His creation www.globalvoicesonline.org is just brilliant, an "online community of worldwide blogs". Of course I immediately read some of the Kenyan / Tanzanian blogs and branched off (a very risky pastime for someone who works entirely online) to find this cool world music link .. http://hype.non-standard.net/list/360 click on any of the tracks "Listen" links and enjoy Brazilian/ African samba, Tanzanian/Maasai hip hip and vietnamese children singing on a street.

 

I'm writing this Blog style since as well as sending great music to all my friends I've also copied it to Blogger's email link to post directly onto AVIF's blog.

 

Fingers crossed my recent pleadings for help with this years Summers Volunteer Program to Global Voices at www.iesc.org, One Laptop Per Child, NFWI, the FairTrade Foundation and many more, go answered.

Infact I'm going to try much harder to update the Blog more too by simply going through my SENT email box to list my daily activities.

 

Its late Winter in Nidderdale, its a global-warming style 9/10 Celcius and the sun is so bright that even the guinea pig and the rabbit are sunbathing in the front garden. I really should go outside and make full use of the wireless phenomena .. actually maybe I'll just leave the internet for just half an hour and go play with my kids.

A Valentine's message from AVIF

 

Get your Valentine's gifts through www.buy.at/AVIF and AVIF will receive a donation.

Lingerie | Flowers | Perfumes and aftershaves | More

Marks and Spencer Marks and Spencer is increasing its commission to an incredible 8% from the 1st - 14th February.  This is a great opportunity to raise even more for AVIF.   Thorntons This Valentines season, Thorntons have created a selection of handcrafted treats to spoil that special someone. Sweet temptation for your loved one and 12% commission for AVIF. Buy Cosmetics Perfume and aftershave from big name brands.  Plus a FREE £25 gift when you spend over £25. AVIF will receive up to 10% of what you spend.

Pass this on to a friend and every purchase they make will raise funds for us

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