Institutional Stove Saves Time, Lives

Thank you so much for funding the creation and distribution of an institutional stove! The following story comes from Alison, an intern at BURN Design Lab (BDL), who wants to share her experience at BURN and relate how this stove is already making a difference in Kenya.

Peter Scott is a visionary. He founded the non-profit organization BDL (based in Vashon, WA) about a year ago with the vision of designing – not just engineering – cook stoves to be mass-produced in developing countries. Soon after, BDL’s sister company was created, BURN Manufacturing Company (BMC), a for-profit organization that will manufacture stoves in Kenya. This will contribute to the local economy by manufacturing 20,000 stoves per month, stoves that women will love not only for their performance but also for their usability and aesthetics. Additionally, throughout the year, an incredibly talented group of engineers and designers has decided to join Peter on this mission of saving forests…and saving lives.

My experience in Kenya has taught me that users will flock to BURN stoves. They are so happy about the product that I am confident and excited about what is ahead of us. As a start-up in a foreign country, there are lots of challenges and questions we face every day. These stoves save trees and reduce indoor smoke (a toxic hazard), but if the users don’t want our product, then our work means nothing. Especially as a student, I can’t help but feel inadequate at times, representing BURN as a mechanical engineer in an unfamiliar culture. However, the whole experience has been extremely rewarding. Our focus groups have demonstrated that locals already love these stoves.

Thank you MSAF, Bob, George, Bryan, Dominic and Alyc for supporting Alison and BURN through your contribution! Your kindness will help communities throughout Africa attain healthier, more efficient stoves.