Education
Lytefire Trainings empower youths and underprivileged with the equipment and skills to run their own sustainable Solar Bakeries and Roasteries
Those most affected by climate change are the least responsible for it. Can we we help people out of poverty, and make the world a more just and sustainable place?
We have trained hundreds of people with Lytefire since 2016. While each Lytefire can replace 5 tons of carbon emissions a year, with each training we create a local bakery that generates income for the most motivated trainees. For example, Mwanza Montessori School saves 500€ per month by not having to buy bread that they now bake themselves and and on top of that, their solar bakery brings an additional income of 260€ every month from additional sales.
Fundamentally, Lytefire breaks the unhealthy energy dependency on fossil-fuel and firewood, and as a result, removes the associated economic stress, health and climate issues. With Lytefire comes a healthy, no-smoke, non-polluting solution that lasts. Without Lytefire and renewable energy, every dollar spent on energy, becomes a dollar that leaves the local economy to subsidize fossil-fuels, or that asks for trees to be cut-down.
By breaking this dependency through efficient, free solar energy, we also empower people to become more independent and wealthy in their region and reinforce their local economy. As we not only teach them entreprenership and the hands-on baking skills, they also learn how to maintain the Lytefire technology locally so that they never run out of energy. That’s possible because Lytefire was designed to be maintainable over 19 years even in rural and remote contexts with local materials. Lytefire is unique in the transformative impact it has.
On this page:
– Our Offer
– Case Studies
– Training Contents
– Contact us
"Earning money from bakery sales is an integral part of the training. Participants learn the technical, baking and entrepreneurship skills to run the Solar Bakery we start with them. The results are real. "
— Joan Arwa, Trainer
Our Offer
For Schools
Trainings for Schools
☑ Bakery Utensils and Ingredients
☑ Per training: up to 15 participants
☑ Technical Training
☑ Bakery + Stovetop training
☑ Entrepreneurship Training
For NGOs and Institutions
Full Solar Bakery Training
☑ Bakery Utensils and Ingredients
☑ Per training: 10-12 participants
☑ Technical Training
☑ Bakery training
☑ Entrepreneurship Training
☑ Training certificates issued
Full Solar Roastery Training
☑ Bakery Utensils and Ingredients
☑ Per training: 10-12 participants
☑ Technical Training
☑ Bakery + Roasting training
☑ Entrepreneurship Training
☑ Training certificates issued
Case Studies and Performance
What the trainees say:
On Entrepreneurship:
With the solar roastery business model, we can see that based on their performance they can reach an income of 160€ per month" — Allen Odongo, Bakery Trainer, with Plan International in Uganda
The solar bakery reached a turnover of 123€ per month" — Champion’s Bakery in Ogur (with Plan International in Uganda)
We are able to save 500€ per month of buying bread that we now bake ourselfs, and on top of that, the sola bakery brings an income of 260€ every month from additional sales" — Mwanza Montessori School, Tanzania
Lytefire has been selected in 2021 as one of the top solutions for canteens of the Global South by EDUCATION FINLAND, the platform of the Finnish National Agency for Education and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Featured Implemented NGO Projects:
Smart Up Solar Bakery Nebbi, Uganda
After a training organized by Plan International and our team, Prudence Yoo Acel Ladegi, Benedict Bithola and friends were so passionate about baking with the Lytefire that they kept going with learning and marketing their recipes. They bake 4 times a week. People like the products and sometimes come from miles away to buy their bread or order occasion’s cakes to Smart Up Solar Bakery Nebbi.
Class, Uganda
Their full name is "Change Lead Agency for Social Support". And this very dynamic group of young bakers has been part of the solar baking and bakery setting up training given with Plan International and Smart Up Factory in Uganda in 2021-2022. Since then, thanks to their hard work and their Lytefire Oven the solar bakers sell delicious doughnuts, cookies and cakes to clients in different markets on Mondays and Thursdays. The sales range goes from 12000ugsh to 60000ugsh. They are based in Alebtong.
TDYAN-YOVANU, Uganda
Since a project with Plan International Uganda and Plan International Finland in 2021-2022, the Tororo District Youth Advocay Network (TDYAN-YOVANU) continued to use their Lytefire solar oven and have a few clients. They are a Community Based Organization.
A Montessori school in Tanzania
Read more
A school goes solar in Embu, Kenya
Read more
11 solar ovens in Uganda
Read more
Training Contents
Trainings are strucutured in groups of 10-15 participants depending on the type of training, duration of each training is two weeks to four weeks. A minimum of 1 Lytefire Pro unit is installed per training.
Technical Training
Hands-on instructions to teach participants how to power their oven with the solar resource. Special attention is given to long-term maintenance. Lytefire can be maintained over a 19 year lifespan using locally available materials.
☑ Installation and Setup
☑ Operation and Handling
☑ Technical Maintenance
☑ Safety Instructions
☑ Understanding solar energy
|
Session / Activity |
Objectives |
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INTRODUCTION SESSION |
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Training objectives |
> Introducing the main objectives of the module |
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INSTALLATION OF A LYTEFIRE CONCENTRATOR SESSION |
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Site selection |
> Understanding the requirements for the site where the machine will be |
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Tools and safety |
> Understanding how to use the different tools > Understanding the safety measures while assembling the concentrator |
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Assembly of a Lytefire concentrator |
> Understanding how to use the assembly guide > Understanding how to assemble the concentrator |
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HOW DOES THE LYTEFIRE CONCENTRATOR WORK SESSION |
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Parts of the Lytefire concentrator |
> Knowing the different parts of the Lytefire concentrator |
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How does the Lytefire Concentrator work |
> Understanding how Lytefire Concentrator works:
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FOCUSING A LYTEFIRE CONCENTRATOR SESSION |
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First focus of the Lytefire concentrator |
> Understanding the focusing procedure step by step
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Fixing the focal point |
> Understanding how to maintain the concentrator focused |
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PREPARING AND USING A LYTEFIRE CONCENTRATOR |
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Preparing and using a Lytefire concentrator |
> Understanding how to fine tune the oven > Understanding the solar tracking > Understanding temperature control |
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MAINTENANCE OF A LYTEFIRE CONCENTRATOR |
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Concentrator maintenance |
> Understanding how to maintain the concentrator in top condition |
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Identifying and solving technical problems |
> Understanding how to identify problems > Tech help number" |
Baking or Roasting Training
Our expert baker teaches local, traditional and international recipes, baked with the Lytefire solar oven. The training covers food-handling and hygene, hands-on baking skills (planning, measuring, preparing, baking, post-processing) with a variety of bread, cake and cookie recipes.
☑ Baking with solar energy
☑ Breads, Cookies and Cakes: preparation, baking and curing
☑ Food-handling and hygene
☑ Scaling recipes
|
Session / Activity |
Objectives |
|
INTRODUCTION |
|
|
Training objectives |
> Introducing the main objectives of the module |
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INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR BAKING |
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Hygiene and Safety |
> Learning the basics of hygiene rules in a bakery > Learning the basics of safety rules in a bakery |
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Tools and ingredients |
> Understanding the tools used in a bakery > Getting to know the different ingredients used to bake |
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BAKING |
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Basics of baking |
> Understanding the basic principles of baking |
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Basic recipes |
> Learning and testing basic baking recipes |
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Scaling recipes |
> Understanding how to produce large batches of a basic recipe |
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Variety of products |
> Learning and testing a variety of baking recipes |
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Baking |
> Practicing baking |
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SHOP MAINTENANCE |
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Basic shop maintenance |
> Understanding the basic principles of keeping the bakery in order |
Entrepreneurship Training
Learn the solid basis of running a small business, coopearative or income-generating-activity. Participants get hands-on sales experience by earning their first income through bake sales.
☑ Budgeting, inventory, warehousing
☑ Financial & production bookkeeping, profit and loss calculation
☑ Market Analysis
☑ Marketing
☑ Pricing & Financial Planning
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INTRODUCTION |
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Training objectives |
> Introducing the main objectives of the module |
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STARTING A SOLAR BAKERY (BUSINESS PLAN) |
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What is a business plan? |
> Having a basic idea of what a business plan is |
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SWOT analysis |
> Understanding the S. W. O. T. of the solar bakery, of the team and of the >Planning to minimize threats and weaknesses |
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Local market (Market analysis) |
> Understanding the local market: > Developing a critical thinking about the market environment |
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Marketing |
> Understanding what marketing is >Developing the marketing strategy:
>Developing a communication strategy |
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Costing and Pricing Products |
> Understanding the cost structure of each product > Understanding the cost advantages of buying bulk ingredients instead of > Understanding the cost difference between cooking solar and with other |
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Basic Financial plan |
> Understanding the basic financial concepts > Understanding a simple financial plan > Creating a simple financial plan |
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RUNNING A SOLAR BAKERY |
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Financial Bookkeeping |
> Understanding how to keep financial records of your business |
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Production Bookkeeping |
> Understanding how to keep records on your product stock > Understanding how to keep an inventory on your ingredients > Understanding how to keep records on the production of the solar bakery |
Contact Us and let’s talk about your next educational project
Eva and Joan are looking forward to discuss your project with you:
Managing Direcotr, Founder and Chair of Board
eva.wissenz@lytefire.com
Trainer & Certified Baker
joan.arwa@lytefire.com
"Struggle with energy is also one of the roots for poverty and in sunny countries, there are so many people with great ideas and skills that are prevented from thriving because of poverty. Alleviating the burden to them is the core motivation of the founders but no one individual can alleviate poverty - it’s far too complex and widespread. However, when we combine each of our individual efforts, we can make a difference. By combining simple and robust solar concentrators with education, together with our humanitarian clients and partners, we reach the most vulnerable and break the poverty circle to create more empowerment."
— Eva Wissez, Founder (excerpt from our values)