East Africa Day 35 (Fri June 17): Solar Cookers

I took a boda over to Meghan's house this AM. She's living on a really cute block with street lights (I think I saw them - if not, then on another block in Jinja). She lives in a really cute, modern house with two other Light Gives Heat volunteers and two employees. Reminded me of an off-campus house, with bed nets of course:) I got to meet some of her housemates before we took our supplies and headed out to meet up with some of the women who make the Suubi paper necklace beads that Light Gives Heat purchases from the women and sells online and via supporters in the USA.

Light Gives Heat received a grant to teach the Suubi women how to cook their food using solar cookers. We took them to Janet's house this AM and set up the solar cookers, and put food out to cook.


photo: Lauren, a Light Gives Heat volunteer from Leeds, England, and Meghan with their solar cookers.

We then went to visit another Suubi woman who was cutting paper to make the paper beads, using a paper cutter, outside of her home. I learned that she came to Jinja from Gulu up north, where the Invisible Children have been working to stop the LRA.



We returned to Meghan's house for lunch, where I got to spend more time catching up with her fellow volunteers. We then headed back out to Janet's house to check on the food. A group of neighbors - including a cadre of kids - gathered around and helped check on the food, and then pack up the solar cookers.

I learned a lot about solar cookers - super interesting!!! And also lovely to get to meet some of the community members. I met a primary school student who dreams of being an accountant. She said her teacher told her about the career path, and that she selected it because she loves math. It was so nice to get to talk with her! Hopefully I'll see her again. This is a beautiful community - and so different from Nanyuki - really cool to get to experience such diversity in one week:)

I've also met some great people at the hostel where I'm staying right now. Pretty much everyone here is staying at the hostel while volunteering for a Jinja-based NGO.

Back to meet up with Meghan tomorrow, for more exploring in Jinja! In the meantime, loving listening to the new Matt Nathanson album, Modern Love, here! Been waiting to hear this album for months!!