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Robert V. Lange 
Robert V. Lange 
   Dear (Contact First Name),
   
The lives of Maasai who have been near our work have i mproved in such important ways. Many now have light at night. Instead of smoky homes, those with our efficient chimney stove have much better indoor air quality. 
 
And with so much less wood required, women no longer have to gather wood daily, freeing up hours of  time. 

Employment is so important, and we have provided ways for women to earn extra income that can make such a difference.

But something has been missing!   We want to work with bringing clean water to the people. Read below for our latest developments with water. 
 
And read about how we are helping to keep cows healthy when grass is in short supply, due to poor rainfall amounts.

Two years ago we told you about our initial work
with eye health and Peace Eye Care. I invite you to read about our progress with this important collaboration. 

We are grateful for your continuing interest and support,  making all the difference to our work.   

Twende!

Robert V. Lange 
April 2017

 
New opportunity with a tried and true solution
 
Maasai water sources are very dirty. There are no wells. Nearly all water is collected from shallow ponds that fill the depressions the government has dug out for catching rain. Livestock drink from these ponds and wade in the water, right alongside the women gathering water for drinking.

Maasai water sources But a simple approach is possible. What about chlorine treatment of water? Developers and donors tend to steer away from good, well-tested solutions to health problems that are already used widely, simply because those practices may not be "innovative." 
But rural Africa's water sanitation needs are no exception to those solved by chlorination, worldwide.  

The chemical approach is preferable because chlorinated water does not get immediately reinfected when it comes into contact with bacteria. And these bacteria are all around.  Containers from home, or even a child's unwashed hands can easily reinfect untreated water.

Maasai Stoves _ Solar Project
Photo by Morgana Wingard

Thank you to Kate Cincotta of Saha Global for sharing her experience with water and the women of Ghana. With the benefit of her input, we have adapted our design for a water sanitization unit that Maasai women can learn to operate. Additionally, they'll learn about waterborne diseases and will share the information with others.
 
 The equipment and necessary chemicals, calcium hypochlorite and alum, are very inexpensive and easily available in Arusha.

We will keep you posted with how it goes, and how we are able to create earning opportunities for Maasai women, in the process.


Stoves for Rwanda
 
We have always been concerned with health issues
caused by cooking indoors with open fires. This includes lung health, and also the great discomfort Maasai women experience because of smoke in their eyes when they cook. Whenever we meet with men and women to talk about the improvements that our stoves bring, they mention this relief.
Maasai Stoves _ Solar Project Rwanda 
Simon Mateka, Rwandan Manager, Peace Eye Health


It was just good luck that when my son, Russell Lange, gave a talk in Laguna Nigel California in 2015, people from Peace Eye Care attended. They realized our chimney stove might be what they needed to complement their sight and eye health program.

Shortly after, Kisioki went to Rwanda, and leaders of Peace Eye Health came to Monduli. But planning for the next steps proved difficult and led to delay.

It was worth the wait! We are extremely happy to announce that the collaboration has progressed.
 
Since the early days of the relationship, our stove design and manufacturing processes have continued to evolve. Each new design is more efficient and easier to manufacture and install.  
 
We are sharing these updated techniques with Simon Mateka,  Rwandan Manager of the Peace Eye Health effort. He has just arrived in Monduli for two weeks of observation and training. 
 
He will return home with some of our stoves and start the training of the Rwandan members of the Women's Installation Team.   Together, we will continue to address the practical challenges of getting our stove working for the benefit of the people in new project locations.  
 
 
All in the family

In our years of working in the Maasai villages, more than 200 women have been trained as expert stove installers. They formed the Monduli Pastoralist Women's Organization , and the ICSEE joined with them in establishing livestock businesses.

 It has been a wonderful experience for all, with income for the women and for all of use learning to run a good and successful business.

This past season, when grass was in short supply due to poor rainfall, we all joined in to make sure the cows of the women stayed healthy. We had meetings to plan strategy, were given some generous special donations by close friends, and supplemented the diet of the cows with surplus corn products  purchased from the corn flour mills in Arusha. 
 
At times like this, we are more like a family than a project, and families grow stronger when their members solve problems together.

Help us grow
Maasai Women_s Installation Team
Maasai Women's Installation Team Member, Photo/Philip Lange  
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