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[[File:DSCN1838.jpg|right|350 px|thumb|At first we suffered from unavailability of suitable cardboard. This load came from the Dept. of Health in a nearby town in August. With it now available, we are hopeful of improving oven production.]]
 
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[[File:DSCN1849.jpg|right|350 px|thumb|The first ladies involved: Also note the back of the ovens with cardboard panels that are joined by strips of cloth attached with cassava glue.]]
 
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{{Updated|1|24|14}}
[[File:DSCN1853.jpg|right|350 px|thumb|The first ovens: Also note ladies on right and left holding cardboard panels they are accumulating so as to make their own ovens.]]
 
 
'''Stephen Pearson''' has been visiting [[Ghana]], West Africa for over 30 years and still goes there three times a year helping an NGO. During his April 2009 visit he helped train rural ladies in the production of [[CooKit]] solar panel cookers. They can now make these unassisted. His recent efforts include the formation of [[SUN-LIFE]], an NGO working in the area to introduce and promote solar cooking.
[[File:DSCN1857.jpg|right|350 px|thumb|Stephen Pearson presenting an "Oven Mistress" kit (including plastic templates, plans, instructions, razor knife, scissors) to the lady selected by her nearby village.]]
 
'''Stephen Pearson''' has been visiting [[Ghana]], West Africa for over 30 years and still goes there three times a year helping an NGO. During his April 2009 visit he helped train rural ladies in the production of [[CooKit]] solar panel cookers. They can now make these unassisted.
 
   
 
Stephen Pearson reports: "We build [[CooKit]]s in pieces use eleven small panels of cardboard. Shops even in rural areas have thin cardstock available as scrap. These can be laminated together using local cassava [[glue]] (cassava is grown all over Africa) to form stiff panels, thus avoiding the need to import thicker cardboard. Join the eleven panels together with 2" strips of worn out dress or shirt (using the cassava [[glue]]). Protect the perimeter of the 11 panels with more 2"strips (1" front and 1" back to stop delamination of the cardboard). Let each panel dry properly. Then turn it over and glue on the aluminum foil to the side that has no cloth hinge strips."
 
Stephen Pearson reports: "We build [[CooKit]]s in pieces use eleven small panels of cardboard. Shops even in rural areas have thin cardstock available as scrap. These can be laminated together using local cassava [[glue]] (cassava is grown all over Africa) to form stiff panels, thus avoiding the need to import thicker cardboard. Join the eleven panels together with 2" strips of worn out dress or shirt (using the cassava [[glue]]). Protect the perimeter of the 11 panels with more 2"strips (1" front and 1" back to stop delamination of the cardboard). Let each panel dry properly. Then turn it over and glue on the aluminum foil to the side that has no cloth hinge strips."
 
[[File:DSCN1838.jpg|left|300 px|thumb|At first we suffered from unavailability of suitable cardboard. This load came from the Dept. of Health in a nearby town in August. With it now available, we are hopeful of improving oven production.]]
 
[[File:DSCN1849.jpg|right|300 px|thumb|The first ladies involved: Also note the back of the ovens with cardboard panels that are joined by strips of cloth attached with cassava glue.]]
 
[[File:DSCN1853.jpg|right|300 px|thumb|The first ovens: Also note ladies on right and left holding cardboard panels they are accumulating so as to make their own ovens.]]
 
[[File:DSCN1857.jpg|left|300 px|thumb|Stephen Pearson presenting an "Oven Mistress" kit (including plastic templates, plans, instructions, razor knife, scissors) to the lady selected by her nearby village.]]
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{{clr}}
   
 
==News and Recent Developments==
 
==News and Recent Developments==
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[[File:MiniSun12H_rechargable_lamp,_1-24-14.jpg|thumb|300px|The [http://www.minisun12h.org MiniSun12H] lamp recharges in sunlight.]]
[[File:Pearson_Ghana,_March_2010.jpg|thumb|[[CooKit]] construction at the SUN-LIFE Oven Festival, March, 2010|350px]][[File:Pearson_Ghana_2,_March_2010.jpg|thumb|SUN-LIFE Oven Festival, March, 2010|350px]]
 
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*'''January 2014: Solar cooking works with solar lighting to help families save money''' - [[Stephen Pearson]], founder of [[SUN-LIFE]], has been helping residents of [[Ghana]] for many years save on cooking fuel expense by learning to use the [[CooKit]] solar cooker. His new goal is to help these families further reduce their kerosene usage by offering a low cost portable lamp to replace their fuel-burning lanterns. The new [http://www.minisun12h.org MiniSun12H] lamp has an integrated photovoltaic panel to recharge the lamp during the day. The projected retail price for the lamp is $5 USD. His reasoning is; if a family can save on cooking fuel using the CooKit, then they will have enough money to be able to buy the new lamp. Using both approaches, the families should be able to save $50-100 USD on kerosene expense annually. Money is saved, and [[indoor air pollution]] is reduced. You can help him with this project by supporting his efforts at [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/goodbye-dangerous-kerosene-hello-safe-solar-minisun12h Indiegogo] fund raising. You can learn more about the new lamp in this short [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7-vhlAefeU video].
* '''May, 2010''' The SUN-LIFE Oven Festival was recently held in the Dangme East area of Ghana (80 miles east of Accra). Quite well attended, there were about sixty ovens on display, all locally made using the [[CooKit]] design. The oven components were salvaged and recycled from local materials. Only the aluminum foil, at a cost of $2/oven, needed to be purchased. The event was held in collaboration with the [[Community Directed Development Foundation]], started by Professor Bosompem. [[Stephen Pearson]] was the only European present. Other guests included representatives from several government ministries. The festivities began with a procession of local "oven ladies" led by the local brass band. After introductions and speeches, there were competitions and prizes awarded for best oven, best recipes, best group, etc.
 
   
 
[[File:Pearson_Ghana,_March_2010.jpg|thumb|[[CooKit]] construction at the SUN-LIFE Oven Festival, March, 2010|350px]][[File:Pearson_Ghana_2,_March_2010.jpg|thumb|[[SUN-LIFE]] Oven Festival, March, 2010|350px]]
==Contact==
 
 
* '''May 2010:''' The [[SUN-LIFE]] sponsored Oven Festival was recently held in the Dangme East area of [[Ghana]] (80 miles east of Accra). Quite well attended, there were about sixty ovens on display, all locally made using the [[CooKit]] design. The oven components were salvaged and recycled from local materials. Only the aluminum foil, at a cost of $2/oven, needed to be purchased. The event was held in collaboration with the [[Community Directed Development Foundation]], started by Professor Bosompem. [[Stephen Pearson]] was the only European present. Other guests included representatives from several government ministries. The festivities began with a procession of local "oven ladies" led by the local brass band. After introductions and speeches, there were competitions and prizes awarded for best oven, best recipes, best group, etc.
   
 
==Contact==
[mailto:spearson100@hotmail.com spearson100@hotmail.com]
 
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[mailto:stephenpearson@sunlifeafrica.org stephenpearson@sunlifeafrica.org]
[[Category:Who's who in the solar cooking movement|Pearson]]
 
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[[Category:Individuals|Pearson]]
 
[[Category:United Kingdom|Pearson]]
 
[[Category:United Kingdom|Pearson]]
 
[[Category:Ghana|Pearson]]
 
[[Category:Ghana|Pearson]]
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[[Category:I2N]]
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[[Category:A2J]]
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[[Category:Solar Cookers International Network members]]

Revision as of 19:01, 2 April 2014

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Last edited: 24 January 2014      

Stephen Pearson has been visiting Ghana, West Africa for over 30 years and still goes there three times a year helping an NGO. During his April 2009 visit he helped train rural ladies in the production of CooKit solar panel cookers. They can now make these unassisted. His recent efforts include the formation of SUN-LIFE, an NGO working in the area to introduce and promote solar cooking.

Stephen Pearson reports: "We build CooKits in pieces use eleven small panels of cardboard. Shops even in rural areas have thin cardstock available as scrap. These can be laminated together using local cassava glue (cassava is grown all over Africa) to form stiff panels, thus avoiding the need to import thicker cardboard. Join the eleven panels together with 2" strips of worn out dress or shirt (using the cassava glue). Protect the perimeter of the 11 panels with more 2"strips (1" front and 1" back to stop delamination of the cardboard). Let each panel dry properly. Then turn it over and glue on the aluminum foil to the side that has no cloth hinge strips."

DSCN1838

At first we suffered from unavailability of suitable cardboard. This load came from the Dept. of Health in a nearby town in August. With it now available, we are hopeful of improving oven production.

DSCN1849

The first ladies involved: Also note the back of the ovens with cardboard panels that are joined by strips of cloth attached with cassava glue.

DSCN1853

The first ovens: Also note ladies on right and left holding cardboard panels they are accumulating so as to make their own ovens.

DSCN1857

Stephen Pearson presenting an "Oven Mistress" kit (including plastic templates, plans, instructions, razor knife, scissors) to the lady selected by her nearby village.


News and Recent Developments

MiniSun12H rechargable lamp, 1-24-14

The MiniSun12H lamp recharges in sunlight.

  • January 2014: Solar cooking works with solar lighting to help families save money - Stephen Pearson, founder of SUN-LIFE, has been helping residents of Ghana for many years save on cooking fuel expense by learning to use the CooKit solar cooker. His new goal is to help these families further reduce their kerosene usage by offering a low cost portable lamp to replace their fuel-burning lanterns. The new MiniSun12H lamp has an integrated photovoltaic panel to recharge the lamp during the day. The projected retail price for the lamp is $5 USD. His reasoning is; if a family can save on cooking fuel using the CooKit, then they will have enough money to be able to buy the new lamp. Using both approaches, the families should be able to save $50-100 USD on kerosene expense annually. Money is saved, and indoor air pollution is reduced. You can help him with this project by supporting his efforts at Indiegogo fund raising. You can learn more about the new lamp in this short video.
Pearson Ghana, March 2010

CooKit construction at the SUN-LIFE Oven Festival, March, 2010

Pearson Ghana 2, March 2010

SUN-LIFE Oven Festival, March, 2010

  • May 2010: The SUN-LIFE sponsored Oven Festival was recently held in the Dangme East area of Ghana (80 miles east of Accra). Quite well attended, there were about sixty ovens on display, all locally made using the CooKit design. The oven components were salvaged and recycled from local materials. Only the aluminum foil, at a cost of $2/oven, needed to be purchased. The event was held in collaboration with the Community Directed Development Foundation, started by Professor Bosompem. Stephen Pearson was the only European present. Other guests included representatives from several government ministries. The festivities began with a procession of local "oven ladies" led by the local brass band. After introductions and speeches, there were competitions and prizes awarded for best oven, best recipes, best group, etc.

Contact

stephenpearson@sunlifeafrica.org