Although Auntie Akosua, our other PKK grater owner, couldn’t
come to the co-design session yesterday, she arrived bright and early to see
the highly anticipated press. We explained the interaction to her as Auntie
Ama returned, and then we opened both presses. As soon as Auntie Ama touched the
now dry cassava, she danced and remarked on how dry it was. Auntie Akosua was
also impressed with the results, and both women thought the single lead screw
press outperformed the other.
The team broke into groups and inspected each of the
deployed machines for repairs. At this time we were able to ask for opinions on direct seller business model, branding, and payment methods. Auntie Akosua seemed very receptive to
becoming a direct seller and even informed us of other women in the area
interested in buying graters. After asking final questions, collecting data,
and inspecting graters, the team left PKK for Adumkrum. Here we showed graters
and presses to Auntie Howa, our first grater owner. This visit shortly became a
village affair as several men and women gathered and discussed the merits of
each machine. Unfortunately we couldn’t stay long, but we learned more about the
community dynamics during co-design and the influences of peers on the decisions
of our customers.
Before returning to campus in Kumasi, we stopped
by Odumase again to give a brief demonstration now that the power had returned.
The women present quickly became comfortable with using the grater and appeared
satisfied with the cassava, while we confirmed a return trip on Sunday to
deliver their own grater. Finally we headed home, tired but satisfied with the
amount of knowledge and data gained that would shape the course of action over
the next week. |
Auntie Akosua presses a bag of cassava with the single
lead screw press.
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Auntie Howa! Although under the weather, she’s happy to see
the machines we've brought.
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Irene and Anna demonstrating the 2 lead screw press for
Auntie Howa.
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