Yesterday, the Asili team headed to Mudaka, where Asili operates, and introduced two new, cleaner ways to cook — with a solar stove and a gas stove.
The idea was to drum up excitement for these clean energy tools and to see what the community thought of them, with the goal of then deciding which products Asili might then be brought into a new business line for the social enterprise.
And, spoiler alert, people LOVED them.
“Most people really have never seen how a gas stove is operated before,” said Mama Salome, one of Asili’s community mobilizers. “They love how quickly it cooks, and how easy it is.”
But before officially deciding to incorporate sale of the gas stove into a potential new business plan for Asili, the team wanted to learn more. Will people actually use it? What would they think after having it in their home?
There was only one way to find out.
One lucky participant of the cooking demonstration got to go home, that very day, with their very own gas stove!
The family was selected through a random drawing, and then, once the excitement died down, one of Asili’s engineers made sure they knew exactly how to use their new tool.
The team will then be in close touch with the family, determining their reaction and how they’re using it.
“This is a big step for these families,” said Mama Josee of the Asili team. “If they like it, we can figure out ways to help more people get it.”
Photos by Lens on Life photographers, Operation Goma (DRC): Kennedy Ngoa and Michel Basizi
