Chronology

1998	Regula Ochnser revisited Madagascar, where she had been working in development 25 years years ago. Shocked by the level of deforestation she decided to take action. More can be found in the 'how it all happened' section.
2000	A container with parts for 500 solar cookers was sent from Switzerland to Tuléar.
2000, December	Regula Ochsner travelled together with the solar cooker pioneer Eduard Probst, his wife and two swiss volunteers to Tuléar. After 10 days of extensive bureaucratic procedures, the first container arrived and the solar cooker project began. In a temporary work place Eduard Probst trained two Malagasy carpenters to produce the solar cooker. Chantal Allain was chosen as project supervisor.
2001, March	The association ADES, Association pour le Développement de L'Énergie Solaire was founded. In Tuléar 1500 m2 of land was bought and the construction of a carpenter workshop began. A second container with parts for solar cookers together with a Pinzgauer (cross country vehicle) from the Swiss army was sent to Tuléar, the transport was kindly sponsered. The Pinzgauer was instrumental in the transportation of material and became a mobile work shop.
2002, January to June	PA change in government led to political unrest and delayed the construction of the carpenter workshop.
2003, Spring	The team moved into the freshly constructed building in Tuléar and started the production of solar cookers under better conditions.
2004, Spring	Official inauguration of the carpenter workshop in Tuléar with office, a sales room and a Guardian House took place. The workshop is also a centre for renewable energy. It has its own photovoltaic system and wind energy plant which provide a big part of the required electricity. A well with a manual pump provides water and the installation of a solar pump is planned. The centre in Tuléar is considered an ideal example of renewable energy in action. The government of the province of Tuléar also attended the inauguration and has signed a document confirming their commitment to the cooperation with ADES to encourage alternative energy.
2004, Autumn	A solar pump for the well is built and is also used as a demonstration for visitors. A Parabolic-solar cooker, which can be used as a supplement to the classic solar cooker, is also shown to representatives of the government of the province of Tuléar and a womens' group.
2004, November 22	Circus Knie Benefiz-event in aid of the solar cooker project ADES. Organised by the five Rotary-clubs of the canton Zug. The net profit goes to the ADES project.
2005, April	The building of a new carpentry workshop started in Ejeda, located 250 kms in the south of Tuléar. The building was made possible through the funds raised at the Knie circus event (November 2004), which was organised by the five Rotary Clubs from the Zug Canton for the benefit of the ADES solar cooker project. The new local centre for solar cookers is finished in spring 2006 and the production and distribution of solar cookers starts in May 2006. This will enable to cover this poor region within a radius of about 150 kms of Ejeda. At the beginning, four Malgasy employees will work in Ejeda.
2005, Summer	Report Heinz Vetter (pdf)
2005, November 4	A container full of tools, machines and solar cooker kits has started its journey to Tuléar. The content of the container has been financed thanks to the donations given by the five Rotary Clubs from Zug and the two humanitarian organisations ADES and FSK and is destined for the second ADES-workshop in Ejeda. The transport has been sponsored by the Transport Association of Switzerland under the motto: "transport companies show generosity".
2005, December	Report Regula Ochsner (pdf)
2006	The new local centre for solar cookers in Ejeda was finished in spring 2006. As there is no public electricity supply in this poor region ADES generates its electricity by a proper/own photovoltaic system. In May 2006 the production and distribution of solar cookers starts which enabled the coverage of this poor region within a radius of about 150 kms of Ejeda. ADES also receives support from the local authorities. In the domain of solar cooking ADES cooperates with 'La Salfa', a social NGO which is active throughout Madagascar. Together ADES and 'La Salfa' are diffusing solar cooking. At the beginning, four Malgasy employees will work in Ejeda.
2006, March/April	After a long process the container can finally be retrieved from customs in Tuléar on March 30th 2006 with a delay of about three months. Mid-April the content of the container safely reaches the new centre for solar cookers in Ejeda. The machines and materials allow the production of solar cookers in the newly finished carpentry's workshop.
2006, 8 July	Following the slogan “experience Madagascar” ADES celebrates its fifth birthday in the garden center Meier in Tann-Rüti. Malagasy stands, films, culinary delicacies, dance and music by a Malagasy group as well as a dinner for the visitors contributed to make the event unforgettable in the still young history of ADES.
2006, July	A delegation of three ADES members participated to the International Solar Cookers Conference in Granada, Spain, establishing new contacts and raise awareness of and mobilise interest in ADES..
2006, December	1600 solar cookers have been sold, 140 of them in Ejeda only between May and December 2006. This success has only been possible thanks to the donations in Switzerland, enabling ADES to sell the solar cookers at an affordable price for the Malagasy population.
2007, March	10 days after the Swiss 1st award of the “Trophée de Femmes”, in Paris Regula Ochsner is also awarded the Yves Rocher Foundation’s international 1st prize out of 10 other national finalists. The award is a great honour and recognition for the performed work.
2007, 17 March	Official inauguration of the second ADES centre, located in Ejeda with the participation of local authorities, locals and ADES Co-President Heinz Vetter, ADES Switzerland representative. This colourful inauguration started with the Swiss and Malagasy national hymns, followed by several speeches, the handover of presents, unveiling of the Rotary panel, Malagasy dances and a party. Report by Heinz Vetter (pdf in german)
2007, 17 May	Former member of the ADES committee, Otto Frei is appointed “national coordinator” in Tuléar to handle current requirements and the projects’ development.
2007, 30 August	Students of the University of Lucerne organised a Charity Event for ADES. The 140 selected visitors were shown the use of solar cookers to fight poverty and halt deforestation in Madagascar. Click here to see photos and further documentation on the Charity event
2007, 3 October	ADES is rewarded the Swiss Solar Prize 2007 in the category ‘People/Institutions’. This is a great honour and an inspiring appreciation. ADES press release (in german).
2007, December	2400 solar cookers and 120 low-energy ovens (which were introduced in spring 2007 to complement the solar cookers) are sold, and the demand is still growing.
2008, April	ADES puts into operation new, powerful production machines in Madagascar in order to increase the production of solar cookers.
2008, 30 May	Inauguration of the third centre in Morondava (300km north of Tuléar), with a colourful feast and furnishing of the carpentry in a rented house Morondava report, by Otto Frei (pdf in german) .