New Stoves Bring More Efficient Cooking

At the Children’s Village, the old cooking stoves have been replaced with three brand-new ones. They are built together in one solid structure, finished with red, heat-resistant tiles.

Ten years ago, we switched from cooking with charcoal to using wood. Wood has a much higher heat capacity, making it both more efficient and environmentally friendly. However, wood cooking requires special stoves designed to handle high temperatures safely.

The new stoves are the centerpiece of a newly covered cooking station that provides shelter from both sun and rain and is specially designed for preparing large quantities of food.

This upgrade represents a major improvement. The new stoves are more efficient, use less wood, and produce less smoke. They also have taller chimneys that vent smoke directly outside, resulting in cleaner air and a healthier working environment for the mamas who cook for more than a hundred children each day. The stoves are fitted with enclosed fireboxes, significantly improving kitchen safety.

Each stove is paired with a sturdy, custom-made stainless steel pot that fits perfectly into its opening, allowing large amounts of food to be cooked quickly and safely. Beside the stove block, a concrete workbench has been added for food preparation and washing.

After construction, the stoves had to dry for two weeks before they could be safely used. Now fully operational, they have already proven to be a great improvement in both comfort and efficiency.