Christopher Sylvah, director, Solar Oven Partners. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas UMC.

Solar Oven Partners Director Christopher Sylvah and volunteers Rev. Kevin Schill, Rita and Paul Hilgedick will work at three distribution sites in Sierra Leone for 12 days, beginning March 1. Please pray for safe travels and opportunity to strengthen our trans-Atlantic partnership.
The team will be working with Joe Edward Pormai, newly named SOP Coordinator for the United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone, West Africa, in communities in the capital city Freetown, Bo (about 148 miles south and east) and Makeni, about 113 miles northeast).

Returning to his homeland, on the 2018 mission trip, Christopher learned first-hand how SOP works in-country and recognized the impact this mission could have. Fast forward!—he looks to growing the Sierra Leone/Dakotas/Minnesota partnership as SOP’s new director!

Christopher and the team will be sending photos and news via Facebook during their March 1-12 stay in Sierra Leone.

Why Sierra Leone? According to World Bank data, 60 percent of the rural population in Sierra Leone lives in poverty, 20 percent of the urban population is also poor.

Using solar ovens can reduce cooking over open fires with direct impact on families living in conditions of poverty. When solar cooking provides an option, money that was used to buy fuel can be directed to purchasing more food and other family necessities. Women and young children, subject to burns, respiratory and eye diseases attributed to cooking over open fires, can experience improved health.

Upon returning home, Christopher barely catches his breath before he joins the six-member team co-led by Rev. Tammy Kuntz, Volunteer in Mission Coordinator for the UMC North Central Jurisdiction. They depart March 20 for a 10-day solar oven education mission in the Dominican Republic.

Through UMCOR and the annual conferences wherever Solar Oven Partners work, we continue to strengthen both accountability for our giving and in listening with cultural and economic awareness to local needs. Learn how to volunteer and donate at the SOP website.