SCA NEWS.

Solar cooker news you send

It is amazing that the posho cooked well in the solar cooker without mingling! And better, it tasted great ! Having said that, I have one query, cant SCA keep stock of aluminum foils in at least one shop in our area so that we can buy replacements?
Bernard Byabashaija
(Kiryamasasa Kibale)
Thanks for the sample cook kits, T-shirts and brochures. The donation strengthens contact with wives of police officers at this post
Okidi Charles
Kabowa Police Post - Kampala
The solar cooker was excellent in baking but please find a way to make it cook at night as well. More people would use it if it can cook at night because many people cook in the evening in our area. We pledge continued cooperation with SCA and if you could bring to our area the pot-in-pot cooling device that we hear you have, it could save a lot of peoples fruits and vegetables from going bad.
Ayebale Stella
Nyamunuka - Ntugamo

I got SCA brochure and address at the recent trade show at Lugogo. I am leader of Namutaba Women’s Development Association and I would like to know the formalities needed to make SCA come and teach our members about solar cookers and solar food dryers. For example, do we need to pay any money or provide any thing in kind? Charcoal is really becoming very expensive and even losing quality. Using the sun to cook food is a surprising idea and people here could not believe when I told them what I saw at the trade show regarding solar cookers.
Specioza Nante
Kasidi - Kasese District
I got your address from Inforse magazine (Denmark) and would like to buy a solar cooker for my parents in Gulu (Northern Uganda). I am currently about to finish my studies in Houston (Taxes). Can you please tell me your physical location in Kampala so that I visit your office on my return from USA?
Jane Francis Ochieng
Houston - Taxes
We thank you for the workshop held at Christ The King Church in Kakumiro last August. When SCA comes again please bring more materials to build the parabolic cookers, people want to buy them. Also pan covers are difficult to get here. But the paint you used on the pan covers peels off with high temperature.
If you could find a heat resistant paint, it would be good for the saucepans and their covers.
Revered Matovu Charles
Kakumiro - Kibale District
Demonstrations, food tasting and distribution of informational handouts have created awareness of solar cookers and created interest among community leaders who are sending representatives to solar cooking workshops on how to make and use them.
Martha Naboze (Volunteer)
Karunguza - Kibale
I used milk a water to cook meat and it came out very well. Do you have new recipe ?
Abwoli Sarah

SCA HOLDS A STRATEGIC MEETING IN KIBALE 14/08/02

Bernard (Ema Consult)
- How can we make SCA effective ?
- The whole country is a beneficiary
- How can we improve on the benefits of SCA ?
Suggest things you want done.
District Environment Officer Kibale
Wood fuel is the main source of fuel for cooking (98%), charcoal is also used. Brick making takes a lot of firewood. Alchool distilling has claimed much tree cutting near streams. Solar drying is already used to dry beans and cassava.Solar lighting is also used in Kagadi. National electricity grid stops only at Kakumiro. So use of solar cookers is justifiable.

Solar cooking can feel in gaps. We can include solar cookers in the district integrated budget. Let us network and put a budget for sustainable energy for cooking in a given time frame. We must do a follow-up to see what is happening. SCA should look at promoting other sustainable sources (make a comprehensive program to make it effective).
Objectives of meeting
1) To develop a mission, objectives and broad activities of SCA.
2) To exchange information and share experiences
3) To chart a way forward for SCA.
Ground Rules
1) Every opinion is acceptable
2) Listen to each
3) Be brief and clear
4) The facilitator guides the meeting
5) We start at end at.
Current objectives
1) To contribute to the conservation of forests through the use of solar cookers and dryers thus improving the livelihood of local people in areas where firewood is a problem.
2) Capacity building training people that can train others.
3) Creatively use solar cookers to create employment.
Expectations of participants
1) Gain more knowledge about Solar Connect
2) Get a solar cooker
3) Sensitization of people to join the association.
4) Exchange ideas on solar cookers and other energy saving stoves
5) How to use solar cookers for family and community.
6) Lay strategy for coordination between the district and SCA.
7) Identify partners in forest conservation.
8) Facilitation after workshop to reach further in villages introducing solar cookers.
Bernard (EMA Consult)
We need to make SCA deliver in terms of sensitisation.
What you aim at your mission. For example your mission to become a teacher, you need to do certain activities like going to schools: primary , secondary etc and then get ordained in the case of Revered Matovu).


Mission of SCA

Contribute to environment and people (now). Is it an appropriate mission or should we change it ?
SCA has not yet arrived at its mission well.
Integrate SCA mission with efficient stoves to improve the mission.
How can SCA improve activities ?

Protection of forests

Sensitisation of people of the importance of forests.
Establish activities, distribution sites from where local people can learn (technology development & sites)
Enhance living standards of our people through sustainable use of solar energy.
Enhancing sustainable use of forests.
Mission Presentations
Group I
To ensure sustainable use of forests through accessing communities with energy saving technologies and ensuring their proper use that will enhance their standards of living.
Group II
Should contribute to the conservation of our beautiful forests and help families to gain real life and sustainance from solar cooking, lighting, entertainment and other energy saving household devices.
Group III
To contribute to the conservation of our beautiful forests and usage of solar cooking to the lager community.
Closing District Environment Officer
Pledge of support from the district . There is a big need for networking and follow-up of the program.

SCA ACTIVITY UPDATE JULY 15 AUGUST

Following below is what SCA has been doing in the FY 02/03 since July up to date. In July, we introduced our activities to Nyamunuka town in Ntugamo District in Western Uganda. We spent there 8 days during which 78 cookkits and 4 parabolic solar cookers were made by the participants. One person was recruited as a Trainer of Trainers (TOT). 2 solar dryers of 20 Kg capacity were ordered and were delivered in the first week of August.

Two field officers went to Kaberebere in Mbarara District for a follow-up on the response from end-users. The opinions of users were positive except that they want more frequent follow-ups. Given financial constraints, it is difficult to revisit areas often. In future focal point resource centres need to be put up at regional levels. During that follow-up, 28 cookkits were replaced and one parabolic cooker was repaired. Plastic materials and new sauce pan covers were provided. The new method of solar disinfect ion (SODIS) of drinking water was introduced.

In the third week of July, materials were delivered to Kasese District in the following areas: Bwera and Kazinga. Butende Technical Institute also supplied SCA with aluminium metals for the parabolic cookers. Another visit was undertaken at Iterero Township in Ntugamo District in the first week of August. In Iterero 5 cookers were donated to the local administration officials and 42 participants constructed 32 cookkits and 1 parabolic cooker with SCA assistance.

In this August, we had an opportunity to meet Mr. Marc Languy, the Albertine Rift Coordinator who provided useful guidelines on the Strategic Plan Meeting that has just been completed at the Church of Uganda in Kibale District. This Strategic Plan Meeting for SCA was attended by Consultants from Ema Consult and Energy Alternatives Africa (EAA) along with beneficiaries of SCA technology, Kibale District Environment Officer, a representative from ADDRA (NGO) and SCA field staff. A report from the meeting is being compiled by Ema Consult and it will be sent to you by them. As a result of that meeting, SCA is now a full partner of Kibale District Administration and we work with the District Environment Officer. With Mr. Steven from EAA, we visited Jellitone Suppliers who make brickets and institutional stoves. We plan to work with them if given an opportunity to expand our project.

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