"Your design is easy to understand and straight-forward to build. We achieved the advertised temperatures in the first try with none of the complications experienced by other students that used a different solar concentrator design."

"We made popcorn as a snack this morning, (look how hot the cooker got at 9am). Then this afternoon the students used it to make a stir-fry using ingredients from the garden (collard greens, garlic, onions, eggplants, and herbs)."

"Since the beginning of February, the Fourmi team at our low‑tech conserverie has been hard at work DIY‑building its solar concentrator.
But why bother building our own production tool?

DIY is an essential way to reclaim our production tools.
By knowing every bolt, every weld, every material used, we’ll be able to maintain and repair it ourselves, reducing our dependence on external suppliers and technicians.

It’s one of our key pillars for creating a more sustainable and resilient artisanal food‑preservation model.

Would you believe me if I told you that we had never welded or even cut steel before?
Do‑It‑Yourself isn’t just for seasoned makers!
All you need is a good dose of motivation, a strong desire to learn, and ABOVE ALL, the right people around you!

This project would not have been possible without:
– Comme Un Établi: this unique shared workshop where professionals and beginners in metalwork can collaborat
– Émeline Delvoye from Atelier Ouka, the metalworker who agreed to accompany us in this crazy challenge
– The plans for the collective solar cooker and the Lytefire community, who made it possible and accessible to build this beautiful tool

A huge THANK YOU to all of you for making this project a reality!”

"These tools are quick to build and effective for the job. As indicated by the Lytefire team it really did take us 2 hours to calibrate the mirrors but then our surprise was great once the water started boiling and the veggies and burgers started to sizzle in the pan!"

"I’m so happy about the inauguration and presentation of the DIY oven… The important people were there: the mayor of São Domingos, the secretary of the Luxembourg embassy, and the director of the IEFP (the vocational training center), a project I managed to bring to life! We succeeded in reaching 220°C for two hours! But the weather is extremely cloudy at the moment, and since I bake sourdough bread, I’m not very flexible! My vision is that we can offer training around the oven, but also training for building it, so that the oven can spread throughout Cape Verde!"

“Here are two beautiful examples of what can be done here with the Lytefire DIY. I now need to find a serious user in Mexico who is ready to get involved. I also want to promote this technology. At the moment, I’m starting the construction of the building that will be used to prepare the ingredients before baking, and people from the community who want to learn will be able to come. I hope to discover more people passionate about this work. In addition, it will be a very visible example for interested artisans. A whole promotional program for the future!”

"The Lytefire really represents the hope that we will re-localize economic processes."

"I’m especially excited about this technology because it can be built locally, so it will not be limited by the harsh import duties imposed on us"

"When we use it with students and the public, it is an impressive and popular tool. Making popcorn with it or stir-frying from the garden are the most common ways that we use it."

"Well, the Lytefire project was undoubtedly a successful and motivating endeavor - challenging, certainly - but very satisfying, not only from my point of view, but also from the students’ point of view. "

"It’s because we offer young people an experience that is both physical and sensory, and because the NeoLoco solar bakery is not far away, that our events with the solar oven have a real impact."