InStove Leaps Forward in Building Relations with Zambia

Recently, InStove hosted Palan Mulonda, Zambian Ambassador to the United States, during his visit to Cottage Grove. InStove was honored to have His Excellency tour our facility and learn about the factory-in-a-box model that we are taking steps to implement in Zambia this year.

Brian Mulenga, Fred Colgan, His Excellency, and Kirk Shauer talk shop.
“We need start-up funding to make this a reality,” said Fred Colgan, Executive Director of InStove. “Partnerships and funding are critical in creating a sustainable business. We have the product, we have the team and the motivation—now we just need the funding.”

Ambassador Mulonda has worked for the Zambian Ministry of Justice and served as the executive director of the Institute of Human Rights Intellectual Property and Development Trust (HURID) in Zambia. He has been involved in the promotion of human rights for many years. So, when he learned of the great opportunity presented by InStove from a letter we sent him in early February, he wanted to make sure it didn’t slip away. He scheduled his trip immediately.

“This stove is not an alternative,” said His Excellency after seeing a demonstration, “it’s the solution.”