SCA Executive Director

Growing population is forcing more families to turn to forests for firewood, while the sun remains largely untapped
The biodiversity-rich forests of the Albertine Rift of Western Uganda are endangered by human activity.
Women walk ever-longer distances to find, then carry heavy loads of firewood.
Few people boil drinking water because it consumes a lot of firewood, the consequence is prevalent water borne diseases, the major killers of children.


WHAT THE PROJECT IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
Promoting the use of solar energy in the Albertine Rift of Western Uganda through solar cookers now and not waiting until the last tree has disappeared.
Building capacity of local communities on how to construct and use solar cookers.
Creatively using solar cookers to create employment at grass-root level
Providing environmental education to communities on the linkage between use of solar cookers and conservation of forests.

WITH WHOM ?
WWFs financial and technical assistance to the project helps us to implement the work plan.
WWF EARPO provides useful information to the project and helps in networking which brings us The project integrates other partners to promote energy saving technologies related to cooking.
Partnerships are nurtured with local based organizations to implement the project.

FUTURE PLANS
To facilitate trained people to become as independent as possible in production, marketing, use and maintenance of solar cookers.
To integrate waste management into our program specifically weaving marketable products from waste plastic.
Find partners from other areas of the Albertine Rift outside Uganda interested in promoting solar cookers in their localities.
Find sponsors to expand and maintain the project.

Project Number : WWF Proj. 9F0052.02
Project Title : Solar Cooker Promotion Project in Uganda
Reporting Period : 1 July to 31 December 2001
Introduction:
People in the Albertine Rift cut down trees in protected areas due to fuel scarcities. Firewood shortages add new burdens to families. Fuel wood is now got from ever-loner distances. Even urban people spend more of their revenue on charcoal and its quality is now poor because it made from young trees, mature ones having already been cleared. Solar cookers are the solution to reducing the destruction of forests in the Albertine Rift.

List significant changes to objectives during the reporting period

Exploring possibilities to work with other NGOs to spread solar cookers so to expand out-reach.
Increasing community partnership so as to utilise the skills and knowledge of communities where we work.
We are focusing on forests in the critical regions that are densely populated and with firewood crisis in the Albertine Rift Region

Our principle objectives remain:
The overall objective of SCA is to contribute to the conservation of forests through use of sustainable alternative energy for cooking, more specifically solar cookers, thus supporting energy related activities aimed at improving the living conditions of the population in areas where firewood and deforestation is a problem.
Create awareness and train local communities in fuel critical and important forested areas how to adopt solar energy technology to enable them cook food and dry fruits and vegetables with the sun.
Capacity building through training people especially the end-users (women).
To promote solar cookers in such away that can change the lives of people who use them and who fabricate them. (employment opportunities).

Describe progress towards objectives.
Below is what has been achieved in 6 months in Mbarara District as a whole.
Information about solar cookers and its link to the environment has been disseminated to the grass-root level.
The cookkit is getting cheaper as we are substituting gift paper for aluminium foil. Gift paper is equally reflective yet cheaper than cooking aluminium foil. Solar cooker usage is 40% to 70% when firewood supplies are low, only 20% to 50% when supplies are plentiful.
 In Mbarara District in western Uganda, activities have been carried out in the following areas: Nyakivale, Masha, Kisuro, Omuruhenda, Nyamitanga, Kasenyi, Birere, Kaberebere, Biharwe, Orukinga. Summary of the data below shows the progress made. For details see data in the matrix.
Parabolic cookers produced 23 Parabolic cookers used 23
Cook kits produced 1007 Cook kits used 804
Number of people trained 1688 Number of people using cookers 827
Solar dryers produced and used 7
Average population of Mbarara District 263,100
Percentage of the population of Mbarara District using solar cookers after six months of introduction is 0.3%.
 At the Uganda Manufacturers rade Show last October, SCA got into informal partnership with Renewable Energy Development Centre and they agreed to promote our cookers along their charcoal stoves.
 In Nyakivale Refugee camp, people appreciated the cookkit and the new method we introduced of decontaminating water (using mineral water plastic bottle that is partially painted black, filled with water and left on a black corrugated iron sheet for several hours).
 During this period of political elections, Politicians in Mbarara District have been donating solar cookers to their constituents as they inform their electorate about the need to protect forests and the environment.

Outputs this reporting period.

The following documents were sent to WWF during this reporting period: September 2001 and update of activities. A fact sheet about SCA
 An article for WWFnewsletter.A presentation at WWF meeting in Mombasa.
Describe targets attained and important developments during the reporting period.
Since the beginning of the F/Y02, SCA has done the following activities:-
It has contributed to the rural integrated activities of the Ministry of Energy by working actively with organisations making efficient charcoal stoves like RAK Limited and one enterprise making briquettes from coffee husks called Jellitone Suppliers Limited. Collaboration with the above resulted in selling for them 4 big charcoal stoves that handle two saucepans at a time and use the same quantity of charcoal to cook various foods like beans, drinking water food without adding any more charcoal to the s 2 fairly large solar dryers were supplied to Masha Mushroom Growers Society, in Masha(Mbarara). This is a womens self-help group that aims to uplift its members financial situation. They are also engaged in digging fish ponds for fish farming.
 SCA helped one of our partners to sell one large l stove to a school in Kabarebere. This stove handles 10 sauce pans at a go using a few pieces of firewood. In July a workshop for Kawaki Women Group was conducted in Birere where participants made 18 solar cookers and 1 parabolic cooker.
 A workshop for Mbarara Women Tree Planting Movement was conducted in September. They are now integrating solar cookers into their tree planting programme.
At Bright Citizens High School, the headmaster is to include solar cooker making on the hand-work time table starting with next school term. The school already has carpentry, handcrafts and poultry extra-curricular activities. We are availing teaching materials to one teacher in that school to make 120 cook kits.
80 T-shirts were used at the special event of Uganda Manufacturers Association International Trade fair that took place in October in Kampala. Our stand at the trade fair attracted 700 people during the six days of the show.
The cattle keepers of Omuruhenda and Kasenyi have welcomed the solar cookers, 104 cookkit, 3 parabolic cookers and 10 efficient charcoal stoves from our partner were delivered to the cattle keepers who have no fuel wood.

Nyamitanga Secondary School (Mbarara town) made 40 cook kits in August. Students in that school make cook kits during leisure time on Saturdays. SCA has provided materials for free to the students. SCA attended the Kenyan Solar Day held at the Nairobi Arboretum in September. There was information exchange and sharing experiences amongst alternative energy promoters. In August, we received Mr. Ludwig Muhlegger from Germany. He got information on the responses of users of parabolic cookers. Unfortunately they still want us to get to them through Butende Technical Institute. He was not able to lobby for us a more reduced price. We get supplies at Shs. 50,000 per set of aluminium sheets. While it is a subsidized price, it still remains high for many people. In the meeting of WWF in Mombasa the Project Executant of SCA learnt new ideas on partnership for conservation that were briefed to the staff here.
In Kaberebere (Mbarara District), the Mothers Union invited SCA for an awareness workshop of 2 days during which women constructed 47 cookkits. Women learnt how to bake cookies in a cookkits we visited them again in December. The women were given tips on how to prepare different types of food in a solar cooker. They were also given tips how to keep the cookers clean. The link between forest conservation and solar cookers was explained to people. During the reporting period 520 brochures were distributed for awareness purposes and 19 trainers from different areas were trained. This helps in capacity building.

The parish of Omuruhenda is on the edge of Lake Mburo National Park whose trees have been cut down for charcoal burning and creating farms for cattle grazing. The area is very rural yet it lacks firewood.
18 trainers have been trained to facilitate SCA to keep close to the end-users of solar cookers.
The bad news is that one of our technical partner since 1994, Mr. Adrian Lubwama of Butende Technical Institute died. He had studied parabolic solar cookers in Germany. He managed SCA activities in Masaka District for the past 7 years. His place has been taken by Mrs. Waswa Faridah , a very active supporter of solar cookers in Masaka District.

We are trying to reduce costs of small cookers by substituting aluminium foil with gift paper, which is equally reflective and cheaper. This has reduced the price of the cookkit and increased its popularity.

Demonstrations in Mbarara town provided exposure to environmentalists, women entrepreneurs and community leaders on solar cookers. The information we have provided to high schools in Mbarara area will encourage students to develop their own study projects with innovative designs, thus understanding the importance of alternative cookers.

SCA activities is going to have a net effect of reducing charcoal burning. If charcoal burning is not reduced, forests in the Albertine Rift will be wiped out. With about 80% of energy consumed annually in the country coming from wood, mainly in the form of firewood for cooking in the rural areas and urban areas, it is almost impossible to completely replace it with solar cookers. It is for that reason that we work with businesses dealing in efficient charcoal stoves that can reduce the quantity used.

The refugee camp of Nyakivale (houses people from Rwanda and Somalia) was very interesting because people are concentrated in several large communities, which made our work there easier. See details of figures in the data matrix.

Describe constraints which have affected progress and measures taken to address them

We have realized that changes in strategy are necessary. There was a problem of quality of the solar cookkit because materials used are of low quality. Now we insist on quality rather than quantity. We shall only use quality materials, produce fewer cookers if needs be but of higher quality. Not, enough publicity and training workshops are given regarding benefits and availability of solar cookers in a community. This is due to limited resources both financial and human. We have submitted proposals for funding to Eco-Trust and the Embassy of Holland.



Planned targets and expected developments for the next reporting period

We shall continue to stress capacity building of CBOs, NGOs and schools. Capacity building comprises training people who later train others to make and use solar cookers. Capacity building also comprises gathering information that people can use to spread solar cooker construction and use to the country side. Also people involved in awareness campaigns are part of capacity building. Our main target are women and young men, but especially women peasant farmers/housewives and working women especially those in markets. We are going to carry out activities in the next 6 months in the following critical areas of the Albertine Rift Eco-region:. Itendero, Shema, Kagango, Ishaka, Bwindi, Igara in Bushenyi District. Bushenyi has important forests like Kalijju, Maragahinga, Bwindi and borders important water surfaces like the beautiful creator lakes. In June we shall extend our activities to Beni and Goma in DRC. We shall make arrangements with Pvi of Mr. Bisidi that will enable SCA visit their project and see how we can work to together to provide solar cookers to people in the Vilunga region with the major aim of contributing to the protection of the mountain gorillas.
We plan to produce a minimum 400 solar cookers and train 15-20 core trainers who will continue with training local groups. SCA will continue to support the Pevi Kacheche project (Virunga mountains in DRC) by supplying them with aluminium foil or aluminium metal for parabolic cookers.
(i) We plan more intensive participatory rural collaboration so as to let the communities contribute to what should be done and the best way to do.
(ii) We plan capacity building at community level and for NGOs.
(iii) We plan gender activities aiming at alleviating women marginalization in the communities.
We plan to encourage users to use solar cookers to carry out activities which can generate income like baking cakes, roasting ground nuts and canning fruits and jam.
Note: cookers for donations, their materials are not mixed with cookers for sale and are purchased separately and are budgted for separately. We try to minimise materials used in cookers for donations since their for donation. That is why it appears as an item on its own. The materials for construction mentioned are purchased for generating income while those for donation generate no income and are an expense that brings back no profit.
The materials of cookers for donations are an expense that generate no income and are separate from those materials which are purchased for making cookers for sale that generate income. We minimise materials used in cookers for donations since it is an expense, thus cookers donated appear as expense on its own. The materials












FINANCIAL REPORT

Income and expenditure for July December 2001


Income sources US $ U. Shillings
Cooker /solar dryer sales, Educational Materials sales,
Construction materials & Pan covers sales 1524 2,651,760
Secretarial services & Consulting 2700 4,698,000
WWF ($ 6040, $ 3263 for project activities) 9303 16,089,330
Total Income received 13527 23,439,090
Expenditure 3119 5,427,060
(Aluminium metal sheets, angle bars, glass, plywood,
Cardboard, bolts, screws, nails, glue, black paint,
Aluminium foil, insulation materials, labor)

Publicity (Posters, reprints of brochures, T- Shirts,
Radio announcements) 641 1,115,340

Training, awareness & capacity building 2079 3,617,460
(Workshops, seminars, demonstrations, trainees,
Renting halls/venues)
Office rent (300,000 x jul,aug, sept, oct, nov, Dec) 1034 1,800,000
Communication (Telephone, correspondence) 477 829,980
Salaries/wages 2068 3,600,000
Vehicle maintenance and fuel 1725 3,001,500
Total Expenditure 11143 19,391,340

Fund balance $ 2384 4,047,750
Comments on items in the source of income and expenditure

Source of Income
-Cooker sales, Educational Materials sales, Construction materials & Pan covers sales: US was realized from selling the above items in the past 6 months. We sell cookers on loan and cash. Also metals like angle bars that need drilling and put into shapes are sold because many people have no equipment to shape them. This applies to cook recipes and learning materials.

- Secretarial services & Consulting: US was realized for services in the past three months we offered using office equipment like computers, typewriter, photocopier and overhead projector machine. The funds we get from selling solar cooker equipment and construction materials and services help SCA to supplement what WWF contributes in support of our activities.
Project activities: US $ 9303 was sent by WWF to cover operational costs and field activities of the project ($ 6040 was changed at Shs 1740 in September, $ 3263 was changed at Shs 1710).

Expenditure

Construction materials/production: US $ 3119 was the bill for procuring the following construction materials for the various cookers and solar food dryers: Aluminium metal sheets, angle bars, glass, plywood, Cardboard, bolts, screws, nails, glue, black paint,
Aluminium foil, insulation materials and casual labor.

- Publicity): US $ 641 was the bill for: Posters, mailings, reprints of brochures,
T- Shirts and Radio announcements.

- Training, awareness & capacity building : US $ 2079 was spent on organizing and carrying out workshops, seminars and demonstrations, renting halls/venues, purchasing sauce pans and their covers and black paint. This amount also includes food for demonstration purposes.

Office rent (300,000 x jul, aug, sept, oct, nov, dec) $ 1034

- Salaries/wages: US $ 2068 was spent on salaries and wages for the period.
- Communication (e-mail, phone, postage) $ 477
- Vehicle maintenance and fuel: US $ 1725 was spent on maintenance of the vehicles. It is a very old vehicle and expensive to maintain.
We have stopped donating solar cookers because of economic constraints
2000
WWF Project Technical Progress Report

Please complete and send, with Executive Summary (Project Summary Progress Report),
by post, fax, or e-mail, to Africa/Madagascar Regional Program,
WWF International, Avenue du Mont-Blanc, 1196, Switzerland
Project No/ activity No. 9F 0052.02
Project Title SOLAR COOKER PROMOTION PROJECT IN UGANDA
Activity Title (if different)
Reporting Period JANUARY TO JUNE 2000
1 Introduction. Give a brief description of the topic, followed by a statement of the
Specific problem or requirement that led to the projects initiation
Until one visits the field, one cannot fully appreciate all the efforts that have gone into developing the solar cooker and solar food dryers. Our biggest challenge is to spread the news that something so simple can work so well in todays technologically brisk world.
SCAs activities comprise of:
Creating awareness in Uganda on how to adopt appropriate technology to harness solar energy from a renewable source the sun.
Training people to use solar cookers, that supplements firewood, and efficient stoves that use less charcoal/firewood.
Manufacturing solar cookers using local materials and expertise.
Training potential users of solar cookers on how to make, use and maintain them.
At SCA we cannot wait to plunge into the exciting year ahead of us, and we hope WWF accepts the challenge and will move the distance with us to make this the decade that the region of East Africa rediscovers the elegant beauty of cooking with the sun.





2. Objectives as per the project contract

q The continuation and expansion of the solar cooker program in Uganda and to encourage networking with other sustainable energy promoters in the field of charcoal /wood efficient fuel stoves as an indigenous, sustainable energy source for rural areas of Uganda and the all of East Africa.

Specific objectives are to:

 Increase the number of disseminated quality, medium sized solar cookers by 30,000 units.
 Ensure the continued operation of all solar cookers/food dryers distributed by SCA.
 Maximize the benefits gained from using a solar cooker/solar food dryer.
 Establish and strengthen regional networks appropriate to help the development of the solar cooker sector in Uganda and assist its reach to neighboring countries.
Develop a commercially viable, market-oriented solar cooker/ solar food dryer in Uganda.
WWF Project Technical Progress Report 1
3. Progress. Give the status of implementation of the project, in particular in relation to the objectives
Impact on poverty
The primary impact of solar cookers/solar food dryers/ on poverty alleviation has been to reduce the economic and in many cases, the financial costs expended on fuel for cooking. Although most of the adopters of solar cooker technology have been among the educated and medium-scale farmers, smaller scale farmers have been increasingly attracted to the project. In addition, the increasingly active involvement of other NGOs in the promotion, organization, financing and construction of solar cookers/solar food dryers on the basis of self-help, has the added benefit of bringing solar cookers within the reach of smaller farmers and people in small trading centers. Many other people benefit indirectly, from the increased employment opportunities and greater availability of firewood.

Environmental benefits
Solar cookers are helping to reduce green house gas emissions by displacing the consumption of firewood and kerosene in cooking. Also we work closely with producers of smokeless firewood stoves in rural Uganda which is having a considerable beneficial effect on CO2 concentration.

Strengthening village institutions
SCA is helping to strengthen appropriate village institutions to eventually take over the functions of SCA in their localities. In Kiryadongo Refugee camp, Sudanese refugees are now fully in control of promoting solar cookers amongst their own people. SCA has provided and is still providing a broad base of training for many of the key players in the cooker program. SCA is strengthening the capabilities of local groups. Meeting the challenges that stem from remoteness of end users as well as working with different partners has not been easy.

The project is proceeding well and producing benefits that are clearly valued by the users of solar cookers and WWF our partner organization with which we work. We are slowly networking with other organizations in some countries bordering Uganda that share similar aspirations. Last May, we trained six people from Virunga Environmental Program, Pevi Kacheche from Congo. We hope that people leaving near that national park can reduce encroachment on it in search of firewood if they get access to solar cookers.

In Uganda Cookits are now sold and not given, and this is providing a key element for sustainability.
In recent years, solar cooking has acquired new urgency; it is crucial not just in dramatically improving the lives of women, children, and families in this part of the world, but in serving a pivotal role in any lasting solution to global climate change. Solar cookers are in this country addressing the needs of the individual and the needs of the environment, thus humbly revealing the interconnected nature of our world.

The Districts of Mbarara, Bushenyi and Kamuli have benefited a lot for the past six months of promotion, teaching and demonstration. All staff of SCA now participates in workshops, make solar cookers and teach others, they also use the cookers regularly and take every opportunity to share what they know about solar cookers with others. We are extremely encouraged by the support that WWF has been providing.
Page 2 WWF Project Technical Progress Report
3.1 Outputs this reporting period - e.g. reports, policy documents, media articles
Very beautiful photos of women group were taken and sent to WWF in the past months
Several up-dates and financial accountability were sent to WWF during the reporting period.
3.2 Describe the targets attained and the important developments during the reporting period

Re-usable cooking bags are now available in the villages. We have stocked 800 pieces of cardboard from which Cookits will be made and used as replacements for worn-out cookers and enable larger families to obtain a second cooker. In January WWF carried out a valuation of SCA activities. It was a stressful exercise. A group of Karamojong women group from North Eastern Uganda attended a workshop in Kampala recently. These people are normally nomards and we discussed providing some further training in Karamoja itself if security improves there. We asked the group for help in making some experimental solar cookers with Karamoja basketry covered with foil. The activity of trainers to promote construction and /or repair of a limited number of home-made cookers (using cardboard and shiny gift wrap) seems to be making some progress.

We made plans with a company called Rwashana Fuel efficient wood stoves Limited; that promotes fuel-efficient wood stoves to cross-train both SCA and their extension personnel in the use of both fuel-efficient wood stoves and solar cookers. SCA has developed relationships with a wide range of other organizations that work in related areas.

Visits with trainers of the communities in which we work revealed wide spread enthusiasm and demand for the various types of solar cookers. SCA receives frequent requests from communities outside the project areas to start solar cooker projects. If the financial support SCA receives from WWF can be raised to $ 16,000 per annum, we would widen our selection criteria for future project sites. Generally the criteria used is that of intensity and duration of sunshine, scarcity of vegetation trees and population density.

The local production of cookers at very reasonable cost is a major factor for sustainability. Solar cooker promotion project in Uganda holds promise of becoming self-sustaining in that solar cooking trainers may be able to earn a reasonable income through training activity and sales of cookers. However, this has not yet proven itself in practice. In Uganda that people are willing to use their own funds to purchase solar cookers speaks well of the project.

In the rural areas women reported noticeable improvements in their respiratory health and reduction in eye problems. They also expressed great satisfaction in the cooking aspect of solar cookers, stating that solar cookers do not require constant attention or blowing on the firewood
WWF Project Technical Progress Report page 3

3. Targets not attained. Please note constraints and obstacles to the progress described

There are still barriers to overcome in order to stimulate market forces in the solar cooker/solar food dryer field. Large-scale dissemination of information involves a lot of publicity and movement . We also need to employ some more people on a permanent basis up-country. Again our project vehicle is becoming more expensive to maintain as it breaks down now more often. Another vehicle that is either second-hand (reconditioned) or new would be appropriate at this point.


3.4 Action(s) taken to overcome constraints and obstacles
We have tried to use the little resources at hand to reach as many places as possible and maintain every contact made. Sometimes when the project vehicle is in garage, we hire transport even though it is not desirable.
3.5 Prospects for the accomplishment of the projects objectives
The most important element of the promotion strategy of solar cookers is to have people using solar cookers telling friends, relatives and neighbors about the benefits of solar cookers and solar food dryers. This is being achieved because everyday we receive many requests for solar cookers and demand for teaching sessions from new groups and people in different areas of the country. To achieve this result, the project sought accurately to inform potential users of specific requirements of a solar cooker and not create any false expectations. Promotion activities are undertaken with other organizations and rural development agencies.
Now people who dry mushrooms, fish farmers and traditional medicine healers who want to dry herbs are in contact with us to see how they can profit from solar cookers and food dryers. There is a traditional medicine research center for the Catholic Church in Kiteredde-Masaka District that uses parabolic solar cookers to boils herbs to make medicine. Also the fact that people are more willing to pay for the cookers is a good sign for prospects for the accomplishment of the projects objectives.
page 4 WWF Project Technical Progress Report
4. Lessons learned during the period under review
Include, if appropriate, an assessment of methods used
The lessons learned is that although solar cooker technology still needs to be refined, product and service infrastructure still needs development. The driving force in rural solar cooker development is the entrepreneur and every enterprise he or she creates. We believe a prepared and motivated entrepreneur can overcome many of the obstacles. We have tried to motivate people by giving free lessons, donations of cookers, avail materials and manuals.
5. Planned targets and activities for the next reporting period

In the next reporting period we shall visit Kasese and Fortportal and we plan to go to Karamoja in northeastern Uganda. We received requests from the above areas since one and a half years ago and it is now their turn. We shall continue to maintain our follow-up of existing users of solar cookers. We will attend as usual the annual trade fair that takes place in October every year in Kampala. Trainers in rural areas will be facilitated and motivated to continue serving their areas.

We intend to train many people who will take over the project in their areas at the end of the financial year. We would like to add on 30,000 more solar cookers in the next reporting period. This will be possible because every year the number of people using cookers increases a lot.

We also plan to introduce school initiatives to raise awareness of solar cookers amongst school children in primary schools. We believe that children can be agents of change and information spreaders in their homes. We plan to send project packs to participating schools. Each pack will include a self-instructing, easy to follow solar cooker manual, and a poster. We would also try to find them pen pals from magazines. We hope that pupils in schools who join our project, will get enriching experiences by exchanging information and making new friends in other countries.

WWF Project Technical Progress Report Page 5
6. Other Comments ?
· In Shema County community leaders and elders, local partner staff and surrounding community representatives expressed their enthusiasm for the project and its benefits. An elder from the community outside the Kiryadogo refugee camp in Masidi said that his people have seen the cookers in the camp and are always asking him when solar cooking might become available to them. This is another sign of the opportunities for solar cooking to ease suffering, shortages and environmental destruction. 
One woman valued her cooker so much that when the panel tore from normal wear, she actually sewed the piece of the panel back on to keep it in operation. Another explained the important benefit to her of the time saved using a Cookit, which time she can now devote to activities with a womens group.

 The family of Mr.KEYA is one of the Ugandan households using solar cookers. Mr.KEYA, his wife Stella and their two sons, Mwesigye and Mbabazi, live in the village of Rushoroza in Shema, southern Uganda. They cultivate two hectares of land, mainly grow bananas, mixed with coffee, beans and cassava. They use five cows to plough and for milk production. For cooking the family used to collect firewood from the forest and cow dung. Each week four back-loads of 15 Kg were collected. Gradually, wood became more and more scarce and at one time it would take a whole day to collect just one back-load. Some time ago, SCA started teaching solar cooking in Mr. Amootis neighboring village. Mr. Amooti came to the workshop to collect specific information. To acquire a solar cooker (Cookit), he discovered, he would need to invest Shs. 3500 (i.e. $ 2.5) plus an additional Shs.1500 ($ 1) to get a re-usable plastic bag and a black saucepan cover. After careful consideration, the family decided to go for the solar cooker. Mr. Amooti bought the cardboard, glue, aluminium foil and a black saucepan cover. The local trainer called Sebuma helped him to cut the cardboard into proper shape. The Cookit he produced is now used for cooking with the help of one stove. Cooking with solar cooker is not only easier for Stella than cooking on firewood, but it saves a lot of time:- at least 3 hours a day. She is very happy with the solar cooker for this reason alone. And her eyes are no longer irritated by smoke from firewood. Mr. Amooti is satisfied as well. He is saving almost 50 Kg of firewood per week, so he does not need to go to the forest nearly as often. Also the cow dung is no longer used to cook, it is put on the family agricultural plot which they expect to start yielding better harvests in the near future.

Acronyms. Avoid the use of acronyms if possible.
but list those used (e.g. WTO World Trade Organization)
SCA - Solar Connect Association
EARPO  East Africa Regional Program Office
Acknowledgements - as required
Continue shining WWF! SCA would not have been the success it was in this particular reporting period without the sponsorship of WWF. SCA thanks M/s Deborah Snelson and Sylvia of EARPO for the countless hours of work supporting this project. We also thank WWF- Switzerland for accepting to continue to support these activities that lead to forest and nature conservation in Uganda and modestly change lives of people directly and indirectly.

 

Current  reports  will be  posted on this  website soon  thanks  for  reading