Every day women and children in Africa are forced to walk miles at a time to collect wood for cooking meals. Most spend almost 25 percent of their meager incomes on fuels for fire. Solar Cookers International is an organization focused on using an alternative way of cooking.

Solar cookers are a simple option for people in America, but in third world countries like Africa, solar cookers are life-changing. They use 100 percent solar energy to cook food, and eliminate the use of fuel and fire wood. Solar cookers take longer to cook meals, but with them there is no need for long walks to collect fire wood. With solar cookers families are not forced to spend their paychecks on fuel. Since it was founded in 1987, SCI has provided solar cooking to more than 30,000 families in Africa.

CMU student Diane Dauven and five other students turned their International Studies mid-term into more than a grade when they held an on-campus bake sale to raise money for SCI. On Halloween they set up in front of the Academic Classroom Building to raise awareness for the women and children that walk miles for fuel resources. Dauven first learned about solar cookers in her Environmental Science class and wanted to take a stand in raising money to provide them for Africa. The group raised a total of $131 selling brownies, caramel apples and coffee cake.

“There was a great positive reaction from students on campus,” Dauven said. “Some even gave extra money because they loved what we were doing.”

Each solar cooker costs $17.50, so Dauven and her group raised enough money for more than one.

Although Dauven and her group were one time donors, there are also yearly and monthly donation options available. The availability of solar cookers not only helps reduce the gruesome travels for these women and children, but it can also improve the environment by preventing deforestation. Instead of spending their incomes on fuels for fire, money can be spent on buying things like jewelry which is sold for profit. The use of solar cookers gives families an opportunity for bonding as a family and community. Dauven is very grateful to anyone who helped her make this small step into something great.

“I want to thank everybody for their help and participation. It was great to see the reception of the situation of what’s going on in these third world countries,” she said.

rdew@mavs.coloradomesa.edu