Aranya Solutions
Solar Cookers and Planting Fruit Trees in Uganda - Soroti
Improving lives of deprived communities in Uganda - Soroti while reducing global warming.
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Mission
Aranya Solutions partnered with the local Rotary Club in Soroti, Central Uganda to implement a project that installed industrial grade solar cookers and planted a total of 3,300 fruit trees at three different school sites.
These schools had been facing several problems associated with burning wood for cooking: high costs of purchasing wood, health risks for cooks, deforestation in the area and increased carbon emissions. Additionally, many students were malnourished, which contributed to low education and literacy rates.
Working together with local Roteract members, the Rotary Club for college-aged students, 3,300 mango, avocado and orange trees were planted at the three schools and in the communities surrounding them. The fruit trees have given families and students a steady supply of nutritious food as well as the ability to sell surplus fruit in markets for additional income. Students have also developed useful skills learning to plant and care for the trees.
The solar cookers have allowed schools to cook for their children without burning wood, which keeps carbon out of the air and trees in the ground. These are important for the long-term health and sustainability of the communities. The solar cooker implementation has also resulted in cash savings for the schools--enabling them to spend the money on education instead of wood--reduced deforestation in surrounding areas and better health for school cooks.
This project impacted approximately 4,500 students (and their families) in the three schools combined, with a potential reach of 45,000 people in the region.
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New Growth
By planting fruit trees, children will be able to foster tree growth and nourish their bodies. Solar cookers will allow schools to cook for their students without burning wood, which keeps carbon out of the air and trees in the ground.
We are supporting 3 schools that have 1,000+ students each. Solar cookers reduced the need to purchase and burn wood. They cook 3 meals a day, 300 days a year. This project replaces 10 trucks of wood consumption a month costing in excess of $6000 annually - money they can now invest in their students, books and teacher training. The carbon reduction is 300 metric tons annually.
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