LAist Interview: Rachel Andres of the Solar Cooker Project

How did Jewish World Watch get involved with the genocide in Darfur?

JWW is an organization that works to combat genocide and other egregious violations of human rights around the world. Almost four years ago, Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Valley Beth Shalom synagogue here in Los Angeles implored the Jewish community to re-sanctify the post-Holocaust oath of "Never Again"– starting with the genocide in Darfur. Since the Holocaust there have been many other genocides, including Bosnia, Cambodia, and now Darfur. Darfur was the situation that needed immediate attention.

How much money has the Solar Cooker project raised so far? And how many refugees have received the cookers?

$1.5 million have been raised since we kicked off the project 2 years ago. We are now in 3 refugee camps. The Iridimi camp has 17,000 refugees and the Touloum camp has 22,000 refugees. More than 5000 women in each camp have now received 2 cookers each! We have just started manufacturing and training women in our 3rd camp, the Oure Cassoni camp which houses 28,000 refugees.

Last October you traveled to Chad. Why did you feel the need to travel to Chad to check on the Program? What did you discover there?

There are two main reasons we went to Chad— to bear witness to the genocide taking place, and to take part in a qualitative evaluation of the project and make certain that it was actually working! The results of that evaluation are overwhelmingly encouraging, the most significant being an 86% reduction in women leaving the relative safety of the camp to gather firewood, since the introduction of solar cookers. We were able to meet and talk with the women. They told us their stories. Each one was more devastating than the last… The cruelty of some humans to others is unimaginable…yet it happened and is continuing to happen today.

Did you feel like adopting one the kids and bringing them back to LA?

Well, despite the fact that being there stirs up all sorts of feelings about what I wish I could do or make happen, it seemed that my role there was to assist as many children as I could and their communities, in their communities, as opposed to removing one from his or her community. And although many children have lost parents, those children have been lovingly adopted into other families.

You have two young children. What do they think of your work? When they ask for a new toy, do you say, there are children starving in Africa?

I am extremely proud to share my work with my children, and I think they in turn share my enthusiasm. What I try to impart is an understanding and an awareness of the ways people live and the conditions people live under that are vastly different from the way we live. This doesn’t necessarily translate to depriving my children of a treat. However, I want them to understand that the treat is in fact a luxury, a exception to what most people have access to. I want them to be cognizant of our and others’ standing on a global scale. And yes, I have wanted to say at times…”Stop whining, be thankful for all you have, kids in the refugee camps have nothing!” But I try to restrain myself!

What was your reaction when you found out you were the recipient of this year's Charles Bronfman Prize?

I couldn’t believe it—I still can’t! I feel so honored and also so humbled to be included with the past recipients all of whom have been involved in such remarkable work . It’s an opportunity to “step back” from the daily details of the project and really appreciate what this work is doing. I feel privileged to be the person who is in a position to help realize the effort.

What is the next goal of your work on behalf of the people of Darfur?

The upcoming tasks for the project are to document lessons and challenges from the two refugee camps, Iridimi and Touloum, in which the project has already been implemented, and to expand the project in the third camp. My hope is also to work with the UNHCR and other NGO’s to spread the project to all 12 refugee camps in Chad.

What will you do with the $100,000 prize?

Work toward these goals! I plan to expand the project and work with young people to inspire them to work to make the world a safer place for those around the world in need.

Barbara Grover made a video about the solar cookers and the women of the Iridimi. Click here for more information and to purchase solar cookers. $30 provide two solar cookers for a family in need.

Photos courtesy of Jewish World Watch.