Since the people with the most need for a solar cooker often
have the least money, special arrangements must be made to allow
these people to purchase a solar cooker in a way that works for
them. Sun Ovens International (SOI) Unfortunately, making a
solar appliance women will use for the majority of their cooking
involves cost. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western
Hemisphere, with 80% of the population living under the poverty
line and 54% in abject poverty. SOI’s research indicated that
regardless of the cost of a solar cooker, the majority of
Haitians could not afford to purchase one. To address this
issue, a revolving loan fund was established to enable women to
obtain a Sun Oven and pay for it over time using money otherwise
spent to buy charcoal. An average family spends $2.30 (U.S.) per
week to purchase charcoal. A Sun Oven can be used for 70% of
their cooking and will save an average of $1.61 a week in
charcoal expenditures. Weekly payments are set at $ .97 (60% of
the savings); the remaining $