Acton resident Debra Strick first learned about Bob Lange’s ambitious mission to bring new stoves to the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania 14 years ago. A friend had contacted Strick, a marketing, fundraising, and communications professional, to see if she could help Lange get the word out about the stoves in order to replace the Maasai’s traditional indoor cooking fires that create toxic indoor air pollution. The International Collaborative’s chimney stoves remove ninety-five percent of the smoke, helping the people to avoid the severe respiratory problems caused by the previous method. Wood use is cut in half, reducing the pressure on local woodlands.
Lange, a former physics professor at Brandeis for many decades, heard about the problem while working in Zanzibar, and he was energized to address this basic challenge the Maasai face. From there, he also noted that a small amount of solar-generated electricity would provide light for the homes that are far off the national grid. Light at night is life-changing for all, and enables students to study in the evenings. So close to the equator, the sun bursts forth around 6-6:30 a.m. and plunges below the horizon 12 hours later, leaving many hours of darkness. Lange trained teams of women, who in turn have trained hundreds more, to assemble and install the stoves as well as solar panels hooked up to a battery, generating jobs as well as clean air and light for the tribe.
When Lange first approached the Maasai, they were immediately eager to remove the smoke from their houses. This led to the formation of the collaborative. Now, through word of mouth, the Maasai are coming to them. More than one million Maasai live in Kenya and Tanzania. So far, the International Collaborative stove is in 7,000 homes, used by about 20,000 people.
Strick is one of the very few hired employees and helps with emails, the website, and communication of all sorts, key for continuing to reach more people. She organized a house party about twelve years ago, created food from the African region, and invited friends to participate. Jo Goldman, a long-time former Acton resident, became involved. Later, Lynn Horsky of Boxborough became involved. Horsky designs and prints the group’s fundraising materials and also contributed the materials for the International Collaborative’s U.S. tour.
On Sunday, October 13, Goldman hosted a party to inform people about the remarkable, life-altering work of this group, also known as the International Collaborative for Science, Education, and the Environment (ISCEE). Founder Dr. Lange and Project Manager and Maasai leader Kisioki Moitiko gave a presentation about their work and the history.
Lange met Maitiko 16 years ago at the start of the project. Lange needed a translator proficient in the Maa language as well as in Swahil and English. It quickly became clear that Maitiko’s multiple skills extended to project management. This is his third visit to the United States in support of this project. Moitiko has also received Mandela Young Leadership training and holds a place of import in Maasai lands.
One U.S. visit included training on installation of the solar panels on the roofs of the structures and he was also treated to a meeting with then President Obama.
Lange has since moved to Tanzania, near Arusha, and fully participates as a member of the Project communities.
The ISCEE is now tackling the vital necessity of making clean water available for drinking and, with climate change and increasing droughts, showing people how to store water and distribute it to water crops.
From the beginning, Lange envisioned the jobs that would transform women’s lives. Not only are the women trained and hired as stove installers, but the ICSEE also organizes women’s groups. They have cooperative banks and lend money to members to start their own businesses. In addition, each group has a collective business, usually a cattle-fattening enterprise. The local men, mostly herders, eagerly share expertise to support the success of the groups.
Lange and Moitiko began the present tour at Goldman’s current home in Winchester, and have seventeen dates planned across the next 5 weeks in the Boston area, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Maryland, and New York City.
Helping the people reach for a better life is the central mission. Both Lange and Moitiki emphasize that the Maasai are clamoring for the information, and are eager to learn and improve their health and situation. They said that more education brings greater opportunities and possibilities to the community.
The organization depends on contributions to help support the projects in climate change adaptation, clean water, health, women’s empowerment, electrification far off the national grid, economic development, and education.
For more information or to sponsor the dynamic Maasai Stoves & Solar Project, contact www.internationalcollaborative.org 508-735-9176 or contact robertvlange@internationalcollaborative.org.
Meg Stafford is an award winning author of two memoirs, speaker, storyteller and columnist. Her forty years as a licensed psychotherapist have provided invaluable insight into the quirks and passions of the human experience.