SOCIAL PROJECT

(1) SPREADING OF THE METAL FA IN THE URBAN AND SEMI URBAN COMMUNITIES.

Before we begin with the spreading, research will be done in order to establish the exact social-economic context of the consumer and the traditional craftsmen and to verify the opportunity of the spreading (is the project necessary and what is the survival chance). It is possible that the number of these steps have been completed within the context of other studies or projects.

Social economic study in the families.
The idea is to learn the habits of the populations with respect to use of fuel, in order to propose to them a FA that is adapted to their situation and suitable for their needs. The study is needed to determine :
. The existence or the non existence of traditional fireplace(metal or other), how often they are replaced, the conditions of use.
. The type of pans and kitchen utensils, standard sizes.
. The cooking habits (types of dishes, cooking time, frequency of use).
. The attitude of the population with respect to a reduction in the spending on fuel, and the introduction of a modern cooking device.
. The financial possibility to acquire a FA.
. The existence of a potential market for the FA.
. If there are other fuels used, to what extend and for what use.
. Are there noticeable differences in the above mentioned points with respect to ethnic groups, social classes and neighborhoods.

PILOT ACTIVITIES.
Measuring the real impact of the use of the FA on the consumption of fuel.
To measure the difference in the fuel consumption before and after the introduction of the FA, in order to determine the usefulness of the FA in given situation. This can be realized through a consumers study under a representative part of the population(chosen after the social-economic study) before and after introduction of the FA.

Activities for wide scale spreading.
The project presupposes a craftsman's sector that is able to produce the metal FA. The objective will be to initialize an autonomous process for the spreading of the FA, which is able to continue itself by creating new markets. To avoid the development of artificial circuits of spreading- which cannot be expected to subsist after the project has ended-, the spreading of the FA must be clearly commercial activity. When launched on the market, the FA must be considered as an economical product commercializing(which are often very efficient).
The launching of the new product will have to take into account matters of offer(sufficient production and distribution capacities), and demand (introduction of the product, promotional activities). To create a balance between these activities, they will have to be strictly coordinated.

Activity on the level of production and commercializing.
The potential market (per year) for the metal FA - can be estimated by comparing the number of families we want to reach and the life-expectancy of the FA) - has to be the production goal. If we know that a craftsman can produce "x" FA per day, the number of craftsmen we need to train, can be easily determined. Supposing the preliminary studies for a thorough knowledge of the field have been executed properly, the following activities with regard to the local craftsman's sector can be started :
- selection of the blacksmiths and make them take interest in the new product,
- training of the blacksmiths to enable them to produce the FA,
- long term monitoring with respect to the production and the quality control,
- monitoring of the salesmen.

Fixing the selling prices of the FA.
This part of the project will need much attention because of its importance ; it may ruin the spreading or make it a success. We have asked ourselves if it would be wise to fix a price, or to let the supply and demand fix the prices during the period of introduction. Nevertheless, we are convinced that guarantee must be created with respect to minimum and maximum prices, in this way we can avoid that prices get out of control. The price of the FA must take into account the prices of the traditional cooking devices, the prices of the raw materials, the time it takes to produce a FA, the margin of profit for the salesmen. If the price is too high, it would be beyond the possibilities of the families. If the price is too low, there would be no economic motivation for the smiths and the salesmen.
Cooking demonstrations.
Cooking demonstrations will be organized throughout the towns by qualified assistants of the social service, each of these demonstrations can receive some dozens of women. During the demonstration two identical dishes will be coked simultaneously on a traditional fire and on the the FA. In this way the women can see for themselves the performances and advantages of the FA compared to the traditional ones.

The spreading of the FA (3-stones) in rural areas.
Before starting activity to spread the FA, the project has the intention to study the local circumstances, we might find important differences with respect to the geographical, ethnic and social context. The project should focus its activities on rather homogeneous groups in order to fit the activities to the specific demands. The areas we want to reach first are those which are the most affected by the scarcely of wood and, consequently, where the population will be the most interested.