In 1989, Dr. Wilfred Pimentel of the Rotary Club of Fresno developed a great kinship with the African people. He lived in Northern Nigeria for 3 years with his wife and family while he taught Veterinary Medicine & Surgery at Ahmadu Bello University. He became aware of the severe deforestation and the grave concern of many by the Sahara desert slowly moving southward. In 1988 he became involved with Solar Cookers International. This was the beginning of the Solar Cookit project in Kenya in 1994. The country at that time was experiencing deforestation at a rapid rate. The lives of the people became more and more tied to the need for obtaining wood for cooking and water for drinking. Women spent many hours of each day in these activities. However, there was abundant sunshine that could be used for cooking. He visited all the Rotary Clubs in Kenya seeking ways to help these women who live in abject poverty. To address the issue of deforestation and reliance on fuelwood for cooking, Dr. Pimentel started the first Solar Cooker Project with the Rotary Club of Nairobi East, Kenya. Solar cooker technology was taught to a group of Kenyans in two days of classes using their pots and food. This was the beginning of the spread of this technology, the addition of "Rocket" stoves and WAPIs followed and became part of the integrated solar cooker program that has now spread to 16 different sites on 5 Continents.

The most recent project is in Turkey with the Rotary Club of Adana-Seyhan and funded by the Rotary Clubs of Adana-Seyhan, Sarnia Bluewater in Canada and Fresno. Other countries with active projects include Turkey, Mexico, Africa, and Bolivia.