Solar Association TILOO

The Solar Association Tiloo is a Solar cooking manufacturing outfit founded by Elena Steger Kassama and Amadou Kassama in 2006 iinitially located in the community of Fajikunda in the Kanifing Municipal Council area of The Gambia. We have recently relocated to No. 18 Mr. P. Street, Kanifing South, The Gambia.

It was set up with the provision of the first batch of cookers and stoves in that year, 2006 with the intention of making solar cooking widely known across the country and to also convince people on the need for solar cooking.

The Solar Association Tiloo which formerly established its own solar cooker and stove making workshop in early 2007, has also as its mission to bring down the cost of living for each family, by using an economical, cheap, healthy way of cooking.

To further express the purpose of this project, the founders in addition, established a food restaurant called Elena's Solar Food Restaurant with menu serving both local and continental dishes.

It is our aim to encourage people to learn how we use the sun for cooking, baking, roasting peanuts or drying fruits.

By learning to use the solar method of cooking frequently, you indirectly join the fight to save our forests. Using solar cooking method is therefore your contribution in helping against the deforestation.

The group is currently visiting schools to demonstrate and promote solar cooking. At each school, a student is chosen and trained for five days in how to use and care for a solar oven. The student is given two solar cookers, as well as a package which contains:

• 1 bag of flower
• 1 bag of sugar
• 1 crate of eggs
• 10kg of butter
• 1 carton yeast
• 1 tin of baking powder

The goal is for the student to sell the food that he or she makes and donate the proceeds to the school.

The cost of a solar cooker is very affordable and it might also give you a chance to open a small business of selling bread, cakes or food or more.

Solar Association Tiloo is divided into three parts:

1. The Solar bakery (which makes solar baking and solar food popular. The bakery is creating an income for local people through solar baking and cooking. It employs as well trainees.
2. The Solar Restaurant (where our guests can enjoy anything from a solar breakfast to a solar cooked dinner)
3. Carpentry shop for making solar cookers and tunnel dryers localy to create more employment and reduce the cost of the solar equipment

Solar bakery and restaurant

Photos of the solar bakery and restaurant

The best examples of success is the bakery and the restaurant. They really make solar food popular. Trough our daily presentations in the street with delicious cakes and cookies in the solar cookers we could make a lot of people interested and curious. The bakery sets an example of how it is possible to generate an income with Solar baking. Our products are to be found along the coast in different supermarkets, small shops and along the beach. The project's restaurant serves solar baked cakes and pastries in a natural environment. The project is also visited by tourists on city tours. The tours are a great opportunity for the visitors to get unforgettable memories of their holiday in Gambia and bring a small solar gift for their friends and relatives back home from the SPG. The feedbacks is very positive.

See Solar restaurants and bakeries.

News and recent developments

• January 2011: Solar Association Tiloo, founded in 2006, started a new program at the end of 2009: 7 pilot schools in different regions received one solar oven each. They obliged to use the oven for one year in various ways. In doing so they have to earn at least 1,250 Fr. by selling solar products. When the contractual aim is successfully reached, the students receive a certificate and a new solar oven, which is then in turn given by them to another self determined school under the same conditions. In this way a snowball-effect is started designed to engender the countrywide distribution of the solar oven among the young generation. On 23rd January 2011 that moment was attained: The first certificate ceremony was celebrated with public figures, representatives of seven schools and guests from all over the country.

See also

• Elena Steger Kassama
• January 2009: Solar Association Tiloo - Elena Steger-Kassama

External links

• Solar Association Tiloo's Facebook page
• http://cms.ises.org/solarfood/pages/displayProject.xsp?id=49&view=

Contact

Solar Association Tiiloo
18, Mr. P Street
Kairaba Avenue
Kanifing South
The Gambia

Telephone: +220 7053822 / +220 9712915 / ( ask for Amadou Kassama or Mohamed Jarra )

Email: tiloogambia@gmail.com

Swiss contact: Elena Steger Kassama

Tel: +41 43-377-94-81

Email: tilooproject(at)gmail.com