Mimi Moto stoves are distributed by the Clean Cooking Revolution, which hopes to improve the lives of those who live in South African townships by eliminating the risk involved in their cooking processes. Their mission is clear, “We have committed ourselves to harnessing the power of business for social good.”
Conventionally, open fire and paraffin stoves are used to cook in informal settlements. The flammable toxic fluids and open flames have led to rampant fires, putting people and the environment in danger. The Mimi Moto could be a worthy alternative because it functions as an air-gasifier stove: it gasifies the wood pellets instead of actually burning it, resulting in a clean non-toxic flame.
The Mimi Moto is entirely user-friendly, durable and affordable. The founders knew the majority of their target users would otherwise have to resort to more expensive and dangerous options. It has a unique design with two removable burning chambers, allowing the user to choose from a variety of cooking processes. The larger chamber allows for high-power cooking while the smaller chamber is used for low-power simmering. A fan is integrated into the cookstove with the option of either a built-in battery pack or a separate solar panel for off-grid usage.
According to their website, “Every stove is being sold for 40 per cent of the production costs, of which half is being provided as a sales provision. Thus, 80 per cent of the production costs is covered by funds, donations and sponsoring.” In this way, the Mimi Motos are able to reach people who would otherwise not be able to afford it. In addition, the wood pellets are made available at existing local tuck shops and spazas.
Mimi Moto stoves have successfully been distributed and promoted in the Cape Town townships of Imizamo Yethu, Kayamandi, and Phillipi.
“Our mission is to kill the ‘killer in the kitchen’, with over 4 million casualties worldwide," says the initiative.
The stove is affordable, and buyers are offered the chance to pay in instalments or on their micro-credit system. The Clean Cooking Revolution also encourages users to attend one of their many workshops on how to use the stove as well as how to cook toward a healthier diet through good nutrition.
The Mimi Moto is ranked by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as the best of its kind from around the globe.
