Skip to main content

Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Make Ranovola

First suggested by Scouts Madagascar
Whip up a refreshing glass of ranovola, a Madagascan toasted rice treat.
Plan a session with this activity

Back to Activities

You’ll need

  • Pans
  • Access to water
  • Stoves
  • Sieve
  • Cooked rice

Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.   
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely. 
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help. 

Planning and setting up this activity

Running this activity

Set up the stoves

  1. Gather everyone together outside and explain you're going to make ranovola, a drink from Madagascar.
  2. Run a safety briefing for the gas stoves. Tell everyone about how to use the equipment safely, including how to connect the fuel, what the main risks are, and how to control these risks.You should everyone how to safely put a gas stove together and take it apart, and repeat steps if people are unsure. Make sure to answer any questions.
  3. Everyone should get into groups, then set up their own stoves. An adult must check that each person’s equipment is safe. 

Rice to ranovola

  1. Add a cup of cooked rice to a pan over a medium heat, constantly stir and move the rice around to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  2. If there’s no time to cook the rice during the meeting, you could make it in advance. Just boil plain white rice for 10 minutes or until it’s soft and leave it to cool, following the guidance for food safety.
  3. Keep cooking the rice until it smells toasty and most of the water is cooked out. The rice should go almost completely dry – when you stir it, it should sound like you’re stirring a bunch of pebbles.
  4. If the rice begins to burn or toast too fast, lower the heat.
  5. Once the rice is toasted, take it off the heat and add one and a half litres of hot water.
  6. You can vary how much water you add to change the strength of the final drink.
  7. Let the rice water cool to room temperature, pour it through a sieve and serve. You can add ice for a cooler drink.

If you’re doing this activity as part of Black History Month, make sure everyone understands that black history is a part of history that people can (and should) learn about all year round. 

This activity has been chosen as it celebrates Black food. 

Black History Month encourages people to think about the contributions, achievements and history of black people, originating in the United States. In the UK, we celebrate Black History Month in October. It’s a time to highlight the achievements and people of the Black community, and celebrate their contributions to the UK.

Reflection

This activity was all about trying something brand new. Keeping an open mind towards new flavours, cultures, and experiences can help people to find brand new, amazing things. While a quick rice drink might not be the key to unlocking a whole new world of culture, the mindset of embracing new things might just be. What did people think the ranovola would taste like? How did they feel about trying it? Maybe people felt a bit unsure if it was different to things they’d tried before. What did it taste like? Were people glad they’d given it a go, even if ranovola isn’t their new favourite beverage?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Cooking

Teach young people how to use cooking equipment safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Make sure it’s safe to use and follow manufacturers’ guidelines for use.

Fires and stoves

Make sure anyone using fires and stoves is doing so safely. Check that the equipment and area are suitable and have plenty of ventilation. Follow the gas safety guidance. Have a safe way to extinguish the fire in an emergency.

Food

Remember to check for allergies, eating problems, fasting or dietary requirements and adjust the recipe as needed. Make sure you’ve suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods. Take a look at our guidance on food safety and hygiene.

Think carefully about the stoves and equipment used to make sure everyone can try this out.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Cubs International Activity Badge

Step up your international food game and try out some more fantastic foreign recipes.