The V2SDF project’s mission to build local capacity thrives on expanding technical knowledge and adapting skills to new applications. In a continuation of our immersive training, educators have now applied core fabrication principles to another innovative clean cooking solution.

From July 7th to 25th, 2025, the pilot workshops at LTCR Mushasha were again a hub of focused learning. Building on their previous experience, teachers from CEM Gitaba, CEFORE Rusi, and LTCR Mushasha undertook a specialized module dedicated to bending the structural bars for the parabolic frame of the Prince 23 model solar cooker.

This session focused on the fundamental first step of bringing the new Prince 23 design from blueprint to reality. Participants worked with robust steel bars, learning the precise techniques to heat, form, and bend them according to exact technical specifications. The goal was to create the perfectly curved ribs that will form the strong, lightweight parabolic skeleton specific to this model—a structure distinct in size and curvature from the previously fabricated SK-23.

Why Mastering Bending for New Models is Key:

• Adaptable Skill Application: This training demonstrates how core vocational skills, once learned, can be adapted to different product designs and specifications, enhancing the versatility of local technicians.

• Precision from the Start: The accuracy of this initial bending process dictates the entire geometry and optical efficiency of the final cooker, reinforcing the critical link between foundational craftsmanship and high-performing technology.

• Expanding the Toolkit: By learning to fabricate multiple cooker models, the educators and their future students increase the range of solutions they can offer to meet diverse community needs, from household to larger-scale applications.

The workshop resonated with the sounds of careful shaping, as straight bars were transformed into the graceful arcs that define the Prince 23. This hands-on process underscored a central tenet of the V2SDF project: true empowerment comes from understanding and executing the complete manufacturing cycle for a variety of sustainable technologies.

With the successful bending of the Prince 23's structural ribs, the project takes another concrete step toward diversifying local production capabilities. These educators are not just learning to build a single device; they are building a versatile, sustainable future—one precisely curved bar at a time.

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