Rebuilding A Resilient Puerto Rico

How this social enterprise’s solar powered ovens may be the key to help. A guest blog from Solavore.

Nearly six months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico nearly 400,000 people are still without power. It’s the longest blackout in US history. Money used to buy food is instead going to buy fuel for generators, and hurricane season starts again on June 1.

For Minneapolis-based Social Enterprise Alliance member Solavore, that’s a call to action. The manufacturer produces solar ovens that are designed for just this type of application: family-sized capacity, rugged and durable, simple to use and 100% powered by the sun.

These families will be able to cook unattended all day while they work or re-build, burning no gas in a generator or propane on a cooktop.

Solavore is co-sponsoring a crowdfunding campaign with the goal of raising enough funds to send 100 ovens to Puerto Rico in April and May. They’ve already met their initial goal — funding for 25 ovens — and the first load will ship this month. To reach their target of 100 ovens, though, Solavore still needs your help. (Check out the campaign on generosity.com: Help Us Help Puerto Rico with Solar).

Below is a map of where Solavore plans to provide these ovens:

This campaign will bring Solavore Sport solar ovens to Puerto Rico and deploy them to families who are still without power after six months. These families will be able to cook unattended all day while they work or re-build, burning no gas in a generator or propane on a cooktop. The bundle includes 2 3-qt. GraniteWare pots — capacity for a family of 6–8 — and a Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI) since the solar oven can also be used to pasteurize water.

Nearly six months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico nearly 400,000 people are still without power.

With this campaign, you are supporting a sustainable Puerto Rico. Young Puerto Rican farmers, committed to returning Puerto Rico to its agrarian roots using sustainable farming methods, were particularly hard hit by Maria. Solar ovens will let them focus their efforts all day on farming and re-building, while dinner is simmering in the sun.

Solavore is a social enterprise, dedicating profits toward bringing solar cooking to sun-rich, fuel-poor countries. This non-profit campaign is a collaborative effort, co-sponsored by philanthropic organization, “The Birthday Girls for Good.” Their deployment partner, Acampa Nature Adventures, who is Puerto Rico-based, will warehouse and transport the ovens, as well as assist with training the families to use them.

If you’re interested in contributing to the campaign — see more details here.