Visiting the Kenkey makers
We will visit the Kenkey makers to make a process characterization, to find out their demands and needs and to assess the number of Kenkey makers in the Ejisu-Juaben district. We will do this with all six of the students. First we will observe how the women make Kenkey and if we are allowed we can help cooking, to experience ourselves how Kenkey is made. We would like to collect all the information during the cooking sessions. We think that if we cook together with the Kenkey makers they will start to trust us and speak with us about the cookstoves. Because language might be barrier we will bring images of cookstoves, paper and pencils so that we can communicate with images instead of words. The Ghanaian students’ knowledge about the Ghanaian culture and language is very valuable during the visits.
Evaluate the cookstove from last year
We will start with performing the same test as the group did last year, namely the water boiling test. Last year the group was not able to perform the test according to its strict method, due to a lack of time and proper measurement material. We are going to follow the same method that was used last year, described in The Water Boiling Test document prepared by Rob Bailis, Damon Ogle, Nordica MacCarty, and Dean Still with input from Kirk R. Smith and Rufus Edwards. This will mainly help us experience how this cookstove works and which parts should be improved.
Design the cookstove
After al the research is done we will draft several designs for the cookstove. First we will make a design on our own, then we will combine all our ideas to eventually come to a final design.
Consult Cookstove Experts
In the first week we will ask around at KITA for contact of Cookstove Experts and we will try to make an appointment with them in week 4. We will ask them for feedback on our cookstove designs. We will also ask them for advice on how to build a cookstove. Because they are experts in this field, we think that they will be open to talk about this and we can openly ask questions.
Prototyping
The exact way in which we will build the cookstove(s) is not known yet. We will have to do research and find out which materials are available first. When this is all investigated we will write down in steps how we will build the prototype.
When the prototype(s) are finished we will use the same testing method as we did for the cookstove from last year.
Making Manual
First we have to find out how we can make the best manual, we have to think about drawing images and using several languages. The Ghanaian students will probably have most knowledge about this.
Complete BMC
Now the Business Model Canvas is not complete yet. After the research is done we will evaluate the BMC and adjust and complete it. One of the things that miss right now is the size of customers group. During the visits to the Kenkey makers we will try to find out the amount of Kenkey makers in a village. We will make a distinction in cities, large villages and small villages. With this information we can estimate the amount of Kenkey makers in the Ejisu-Juaben district.