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NEW: October 2007 evaluation report on the Iridimi Refugee Camp project

CooKit solar panel cookers in the Iridimi refugee camp in Chad
CooKit solar panel cookers in the Iridimi refugee camp in Chad
In May, 2006, Jewish World Watch began a partnership with Solar Cookers International (SCI) and the KoZon Foundation to expand access to solar cookers for Darfur refugees and improve the lives of over 4,000 families at Iridimi refugee camp in Chad. The project improves the safety and survival of women in the refugee camps.

Over two hundred thousand Darfur refugees live in camps on the Chad side of the border with Sudan. Camps have an average of 17,000 people, mostly women and children, and many children with no parents. Each camp is divided into 10 zones of 3000 people/600 tents. The camp is located in an arid area nearly devoid of vegetation, but with abundant sun. Basic food supplies are provided by the United Nation's World Food Programme. At Iridimi camp, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provides some firewood, typically enough for 3-4 days. For additional fuel, refugee women must either purchase wood from local Chadians or venture outside the camp to collect cooking fuel. To do the latter means risking assault and even death.

Refuge women making CooKit solar panel cookers
Refuge women making CooKit solar panel cookers
Twenty-one refugee women earn income by making a simple solar cooker, called the CooKit, at the workshop. Made from cardboard and aluminum foil, this hand-assembled CooKit lasts 6-9 months with regular use despite the windy conditions. Each CooKit cooks tasty nutritious meals with a few hours of free, renewable sunshine and saves one ton of fuelwood each year. Over forty women have been trained to teach others how to solar cook. After a day of instruction by a trainer on how to use and care for CooKits, refugee families receive two CooKits, one to cook the staple grain and one for the accompanying vegetable or sauce. Larger families received additional CooKits that provide additional cooking capacity.
Darfur refugee women pose with their donated CooKit solar panel cookers.
Darfur refugee women pose with their donated CooKit solar panel cookers.

The project started in early 2006 through a partnership between SCI and KoZon Foundation, both with extensive experience in disseminating solar cookers in refugee camps on the African continent. KoZon Foundation works at Iridimi camp under the auspices of CARE-Chad. The project enables refugee families to solar cook, save money and reduce the risks associated with venturing out of the camp. Solar cookers provide a sustainable solution to meet the urgent need for cooking energy alternatives for Darfur refugee families. By supporting the Solar Cooker project, Jewish World Watch is bringing hope and life-saving assistance to Darfur refugees living in Chad.

Jewish World Watch is a project of a coalition of synagogues working together to mobilize synagogues, their schools, their members and the community to combat genocide and other egregious violations of human rights around the world. It is the mission of Jewish World Watch to:

  • Develop educational programs to educate the target constituencies;
  • Activate the target constituencies to generate response from the United Nations and US policy makers; and
  • Realize resources to provide assistance to the survivors and victims of genocide and egregious violations of human rights

The benefits of solar cooking for the refugees in these camps:

  • Solar cooking can reduce the need for frequent firewood collection reducing the risk of violence towards women and girls.
  • Two solar cookers can save one ton of wood each year.
  • There is no need to tend a fire so women are free to do other tasks.
  • The production of the solar cookers provides income generation opportunities for female refugees.

What you can do:

  • Help us provide the Iridimi and Touloum camps with solar cookers by raising awareness and raising money.
  • Host an event with an engaging Jewish World Watch speaker at your home, work, Parent Association, library, synagogue or church to learn more about the genocide in Darfur.
  • Organize a fundraiser to help bring solar cookers to these women. Ideas: BBQ, bake sale, car wash, dinner or theatre party.
  • Make a donation: A $30 donation supports one family by providing two solar cookers, training and two pot holders. A $150 donation supports five families by providing ten solar cookers, training and ten pot holders and so on. People wishing to donate can contact Jewish World Watch at +1 818-501-1836.

As of March 15, 2007, it's official - Jewish World Watch will become the fundraising arm for all US donations to the Chad solar cooker projects. They are also open to answering donation and project related inquiries (especially if the latter are not technical question on how solar cookers work or requests to purchase products). People wishing to donate can contact Jewish World Watch at +1 818-501-1836.

[The original text for this page was taken from http://www.jewishworldwatch.org in February, 2007. Updates may have been added since that time.].

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[edit] News and recent developments

  • March 2008: Rachel Andres of Jewish World Watch was recognized with the Charles Bronfman Award of US$100,000 for her work with Jewish World Watch's Solar Cooker Project. The annual award created by Bronfman's two children, Ellen and Stephen, and their spouses, is given to a humanitarian worker younger than 50 whose efforts exemplify Jewish values. Andres, the first woman and the fourth person to be named, will receive the award May 5. The Solar Cooker Project has donated some 5,000 pieces of solar-powered cooking equipment to women who escaped Darfur and fled to refugee camps, where women commonly are raped as they venture away to collect firewood. Since project volunteers started distributing the cooking equipment last year in the Iridimi and Touloum refugee camps on Chad's border with Sudan, the risk to women has been reduced significantly, according to a news release announcing Andres as the award winner.[1] - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
  • December 2007: Upon return from visiting the refugee camps in Chad, and participating in an evaluation of our Solar Cooker Project, Jewish World Watch representatives were asked to come to Geneva last week to present the Project to an international forum that included high level representatives from UN agencies. A full report will be forthcoming in our January newsletter, including the possibility of widespread expansion of the Project into other refugee camps in Chad.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Articles in the media

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[edit] Contact

Jewish World Watch
16944 Ventura Blvd. Suite 1
Encino, CA 91316
USA

Tel: +1 818-501-1836

info@jewishworldwatch.org
http://www.jewishworldwatch.org

Questions on the solar cooker projects in Chad should be directed to Rachel Andres of Jewish World Watch. She can be contacted at rachelandres@gmail.com or at +1 (323) 965-5514.

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