OUR STORY

In 2015 at the age of 18yrs, Arnold Nyendwa wanted to help his family cope with a nationwide electricity crisis that resulted in months of rotational load shedding. Using scrap metal sheets from an abandoned school locker, Arnold built a device that would become Africa's first stainless steel stove, capable of using LP gas, electricity and solid fuel. Inspired by personal and family experience in Zambia, the invention aims to reduce the adverse effects of charcoal and wood and addresses the energy poverty both in the rural and urban households. 

Arnold's invention kept evolving and established him as an entrepreneur. He later Founded a company called, Venturas Jumpstart of which in 2021 company changed to AFNON and his brazier invention was now upgraded to a Stove Africa's first Stainless Steel Stove. This was through a partnership with Southern Africa Stainless Steel Development Association (SASSDA) His company manufactures the stoves and they are sold to suppliers. The future plan is to build Stove Assembling Plants in different countries which will later create employment. Now at age of 26 years the Zambian inventor and entrepreneur designs, produces and distributes improved, reliable and affordable cook stoves for low-income households with a goal to provide Sustainable Environment Energy solutions to contribute to climate change mitigation. 

The innovation has been designed to be one of the best solutions to reduce Carbon Emissions and high rate of Deforestation in the Congo Basin Climate Change (CBCC) Countries. The first innovative cook stoves, the Juvin stainless hybrid stove runs on three energy sources namely; gas, electricity and charcoal pallets is been labelled among the 1000 efficient solutions in the World by the World Alliance for Efficient solutions under the Solar Impulse Foundation based in Switzerland (Chaired by the Swiss explorer Mr. Bertrand Piccard and patrons Sir Richard Brandson, James Cameroon and Prince Albert of Monaco) We are glad to mention that we are the first and only clean tech company in Southern Africa to be given the world label as one of the 1000 efficient solutions in the world. The innovation has won close to 30 global awards. The second innovation is called Juvin Eco Stove which is made using locally sourced Recycled waste metal. This reduces production costs and makes the products affordable for our target markets. With only two hands full of solid fuel such as charcoal pellets one can cook up to 8 to 10 hours nonstop. 

 Since 2021, AFNON has distributed 38,000 clean cookstoves in Zambia and exported a few to DRC Congo and Malawi to help mitigate #ClimateChange and Deforestation and adding value to clean cooking preventing women from Lungs affects with smoke emissions. Working with United nations Development Program Africa Regional Office (UNDP) on Africa free trade continental agreement AfCFTA.

 AFNON is the first top 15 businesses Under 40 selected by UNDP in Africa to pilot this project AFNON has also collaborated with more than 5 local international organizations with MOU’s name world vision Zambia, plan international Zambia, care international Zambia, Caritas and NGOCC and last with financing from British Council UK and many more for its mitigation

The Vision To significantly reduce climate change effects and household air pollution in served and underserved markets in Africa. To be the most reliable cooking asset for base of the pyramid households in Africa.