Community Driven Development of Rocket Stoves in Rural South Africa

Abstract, International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, 2012

This article details the process of the implementation of collaboratively developed, clean cookstove technology in rural Limpopo Province of South Africa. The stove design drew heavily upon existing, open source knowledge regarding top light updraft wood fired stoves and suggestions from on the ground practitioners in South Africa. Implementation followed the model of community engagement that values community assets and adheres to a platform of mutual respect and reciprocity as part of the relationship. The more than two year project evolved out of a more than a decade long series of personal, professional and institutional partnership between the students, faculty and community members from the University of Venda in South Africa and the University of Virginia in the U.S. The article not only details the design and build out phases of the affordable cookstoves, but also details the history and context of the collaborative student project.

Index Terms - Community Engagement, Rocket Stove, Service-learning, South Africa