Kopernik

Kopernik receives $80K in grants from Daiwa Securities Group and $11K from Russell Investments Japan for energy and water projects in developing Asian countries

We are pleased to announce Kopernik has received approximately $80,000 in grants from Daiwa Securities Group and $11,000 from Russell Investments Japan for Asia-focused energy and water projects.

 
The funds will enable seven new projects to be implemented that will benefit remote and vulnerable populations in Timor-Leste, Viet Nam and Indonesia. The technologies include solar-powered lights, biomass stoves and briquettes, water purification units and solar-powered hearing aids.
 
Safe and efficient energy sources and reliable access to drinking water are two of the most significant needs for developing populations in rural areas.
 
“This is unlike a traditional development project,” said Mariko Kawaguchi, Managing Director of Daiwa’s CSR Group. “We like the technology focus and transparency of Kopernik, the very clear cost structure and emphasis on the ‘last mile’” The last mile refers to the final push needed to bring a needed technology to the user.
 
We are extremely excited and grateful to receive this round of funding. The commitment Daiwa Securities Group and Russell Investments Japan have made to us demonstrate the positive impact we have had and will continue to have in our efforts to develop innovative solutions for the developing world.

Two new projects fully funded - delivering light to those in need

Two new projects to provide clean, reliable and safe sources of light to communities in Timor-Leste and Indonesia have recently been fully funded through the Kopernik website.

The "Give a brighter future" project will provide rural families in Oecusse with solar lighting for household use. Electricity is sporadic at best in the enclave of Oecusse, and that’s only for those that are connected to the grid. Most of the population does not have access to a regular power source. Most people use kerosene for lighting - a dirty, dangerous and expensive fuel - spending on average $16 per month per household on kerosene supplies.  The Oecusse initiative will benefit 300 households and will give rural families access to the D.Light Kiran S11 solar lanterns. The solar lights will eliminate the fumes and the risk of fires presented by the use of kerosene lamps.

The "Clean and reliable light for indigenous communities" project will provide indigenous communities in the Papua province of Indonesia with a reliable and safe lighting source. In isolated areas of Papua, indigenous communities lack access to reliable sources of electricity for household lighting purposes. As a result, communities must rely on traditional means of lighting their homes such as wood fires. This initiative will involve the delivery of 300 solar LED lamps (the Barefoot Firefly Mobile). The Firefly solar lamps will help meet the household lighting needs of indigenous families in Papua Province. In particular, the solar lamps will allow children to study during evening hours.

Kopernik expands its range of life-changing technologies

The Kopernik website has been re-designed and will be launched very soon - so stay tuned! Amongst other things, the new features of the site include gift vouchers, a Kopernik community function and most importantly access to a much greater range of technologies for our technology seekers.
 
While the current Kopernik website showcases a variety of ready-to-go technologies designed to improve the lives of people in the developing world, Kopernik is excited to be able to introduce a much wider offering through the new site.
 
Over the past months, the Kopernik team has been working hard to expand our online technology listings to include more commercially available products, as well as both emerging technologies and do-it-yourself (DIY) technologies. Emerging technologies are either under development or just entering production, and often seek opportunities for field testing. DIY technologies are designed specifically for users to produce, assemble and modify locally.  Kopernik committed to disseminating DIY technologies at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting this September. 
 
If you are a technology provider and would like your innovation listed on Kopernik, please contact us.

Call for Kopernik Fellows

We are pleased to announce our second Kopernik fellows intake for deployment in the first half of 2011.  A Kopernik fellow is an unpaid volunteer position that provides a unique opportunity for the individual to work with our partner NGOs and assist with the implementation and monitoring of technology projects.  At this stage we are seeking fellows for Indonesia, Timor-Leste as well as several English-speaking African countries.  Minimum requirements include a Bachelor's degree and previous experience in developing countries.  Appropriate technology experience and language skills are a huge plus.  A minimum of a two-month commitment is required.  To learn more about the Kopernik Fellows program contact us.

Did you know that we have a blog?

We have both an English and Japanese blog which are updated regularly. Check out the blog to read about our activities in the field.

New Wedding Campaign

We are delighted to have a new wedding campaign on our website - this time for Kaori and Neo - check it out here. Thanks Kaori and Neo for supporting Kopernik projects and congratulations!

Contact us if you are interested in learning more about Kopernik wedding campaigns.

Check out our personalized fundraising pages

We recognize the importance of the ‘personal connection’ in fundraising and so are piloting, in partnership with CauseVox, individual, personalized, fundraising pages.  You can view an example page here.

And you can sign up here to create your own fundraising page.  Join us and help raise money for the 'Light up Rural Kenya' project.