Last week, Professor Onno van Schayck returned from Ambur, India, where he spent time visiting the communities we’ve been working with.
Between March 18 and 25, he followed up on the implementation of 300 Exhale stoves. And while numbers matter, it’s the stories behind them that stayed with him.
People spoke about fewer health complaints. About less smoke in their homes. About children being able to play safely indoors again. Small changes, but with a very real impact on daily life.
What stood out just as much was how the community has made the project their own.
Families didn’t just adopt the stoves, they adapted them. They adjusted designs to fit their homes, their habits, their preferences. That kind of ownership is exactly what we hope for. It means the solution is not just accepted, but embedded.
At the same time, these adaptations also brought valuable lessons. Not every change works as intended; smoke, for example, doesn’t behave the way we might hope. In some cases, design choices led to it flowing back into the house rather than out. And in this process, that’s okay.
This is what co-creation looks like in practice: learning together, improving together, finding the right balance between flexibility and technical guidance.
Behind the scenes, the project has also delivered on its goals. All 300 stoves were installed, with costs closely matching expectations and strong involvement from the community throughout the process . The local team has grown in experience, confidence, and skill; something that will be crucial as we move forward.
What this visit confirmed, above all, is that the project is working.
Not just technically, but socially.
There is motivation on the ground. There is positive feedback. And there is momentum.
These 300 stoves are only the beginning of what comes next.
We’ll continue building on what we’ve learned, together with the communities in Ambur and beyond.
And as always, all support – whether through sharing, thinking along, or contributing financially – remains very welcome.
Thank you to the communities for welcoming us, and special thank you to Sujatha Srinivasan for her continuous engagement in the project and these communities.