On writing a stoves grant

For those curious and interested in the Peace Corps' grant writing process, I'll upload my World Connect Project Plan here. Hopefully it will explain the language used in World Connect's grants and the project I plan to implement soon enough! 

Bronwen Raff

World Connect Improved Cookstoves in Copey

Project Plan

April 4, 2014

Goals:

1)    To provide high quality improved clay cookstoves for 40 women to use in their homes for 90% of their regular cooking needs while improving health outcomes for women and children by removing smoke from cooking areas and protecting the environment by reducing the amount of fuel consumed.

2)    Low-income women will adopt healthy behaviors and practices that contribute to improved family health outcomes. 

Activities:

This project has two main components. The first component is the educational and organizational part while the second component is the actual building of the improved cookstoves. In the beginning stages of the project, I will work with my key community partner to create a cookstoves committee with women heads of households who are current members of the women’s center in Copey. These will be women whose homes I have visited to confirm that they are in need of an improved cookstove as they are currently using coal burning and environmentally harmful stoves for the majority of their cooking. They are also women who serve as community health promoters and have a vested interest in bettering their community and the environment. This committee will meet every two weeks and we will discuss details of the cookstoves project, including: requirements for obtaining a cookstove, expectations during construction process, responsibilities of beneficiary families, lectures on the importance, usage and maintenance of cookstoves, as well as possible fundraising initiatives.

            The second component of the project will include the actual construction of the cookstoves. I will be responsible for making sure all of the details are prepared for the process, including: soliciting transportation to pick up ceramic stove pieces, purchasing cement and other materials from the hardware store, coordinating a schedule with the mason and project partner, confirming the schedule with the beneficiary families and general troubleshooting that may come along in the construction process. Once all these details have been finalized, we will begin construction, ideally 3-5 stoves a week. In this process, the beneficiary families will be responsible for providing one helper during construction, a bag of sand, a bag of ash, and food for the workers. After construction is complete, there will be a final portion of the project in which I will teach the women how to cook on their improved cookstoves. After the women have been using their stoves for a few weeks, I will make sure to follow up with them by conducting a home visit and a water boiling test on the stove itself.

            This project will positively impact the community by bringing 40 improved cookstoves to the town of Copey. Most women are currently cooking on stoves that do not have chimneys, harm the lungs of children and women, and burn coal. Additionally, 40 women and their families will be educated on proper usage of these improved cookstoves, as well as the importance of clearing smoke from cooking areas, using less resources for cooking, and how to prevent chronic illnesses.

Time Frame:

1)    Create stove committee: April-May, 2014

2)    Begin preparation of materials, solicit transport, coordinate schedules with mason: May-June, 2014

3)    Begin and complete lectures with 40 beneficiary women on benefits, usage and maintenance of improved cookstoves: May-July, 2014

4)    Pick up materials from workshop in Moca, Dominican Republic: July, 2014

5)    Begin construction of 40 improved cookstoves: August, 2014

6)    Finish construction of 40 improved cookstoves: October, 2014

7)    Test cookstoves and ensure proper maintenance and upkeep: October-December, 2014.

Total Expected Beneficiaries:

The total number of beneficiaries reached will be 40 women 24 and older who use will these stoves daily. Additionally, the families of these women will benefit from the improved cookstove project. This includes approximately 20 women 24 and younger, 20 men 24 and older, 20 men 24 and younger, 20 girls between ages 0 and 5, 20 boys between ages 0 and 5, 20 girls between 5 and 18, and 20 boys between 5 and 18.

Indicators:

1)    To provide high quality improved clay cookstoves for 40 women to use in their homes for 90% of their regular cooking needs while improving health outcomes for women and children by removing smoke from cooking areas and protecting the environment by reducing the amount of fuel consumed.

a.     Increase in exclusive cooking on firewood burning improved cookstoves among 40 low-income families.

b.     Increase in access to safer cooking practices for 40 low-income women.

2)    Low-income women will adopt healthy behaviors and practices that contribute to improved family health outcomes. 

a.     Increase in knowledge related to environmental benefits of improved cookstoves among 40 low-income women and their families.

b.     Increase of knowledge and awareness of health consequences of smoke inhalation for 40 low-income women and their families.

Data Collection Method & Person Responsible:

Data will be collected through a series of water-boiling tests conducted on the old cookstoves and then again on the new cookstove model to ensure that the cookstoves are highly efficient and beneficial for the environment. Additionally, to test education and knowledge of the benefits of the cookstoves, the PCV will conduct a pre and post test for the 40 beneficiary women. Finally, the PCV and project partner will be responsible for conducting home visits three months after construction is completed to ensure the beneficiary families are using the cookstoves properly. The PCV will be responsible for data collection and the community organization’s members will provide help.