In developing countries of Africa, the demand for wood as a fuel for cooking leads to the rapid loss of trees. This loss contributes to the erosion of soil and polluting of waterways. AHEAD (Adventures In Health, Education and AgriculturalDevelopment Inc.) works to reduce deforestation by teaching communities how to harness the sun for solar cooking. Solar panel and box cookers can reduce the use of wood by as much as 50% by using the sun’s energy. These devices coupled with rocket stoves and "heat retaining ovens" may further reduce the need for wood. Solar cooking helps villages reduce their reliance on wood as a fuel and in turn, reduce emissions of toxic fumes and smoke. With an average of 1,500 people per village, AHEAD is currently teaching individuals in seven villages in The Gambia and four villages in Tanzania to use solar energy topurify water and prepare meals.

Solar energy purifies water and cooks food, allowing villages to care for their people and 
the environment.