Kopernik

After successful innovation workshops the See-D contest moves to the next stage

As highlighted in the September newsletter the See-D contest aims to address the immediate needs of the developing world by engaging Japanese engineers and designers and encouraging them to create sustainable solutions to ensure the basic needs of the world's poorest communities are met.

Launched in March of this year the See-D contest is a three-phase project aiming to incubate an appropriate technological product from Japan, a country with the world's latest technologies. The contest is to be conducted in three phases: 1) innovation workshop, 2) design competition and 3) incubation. Please click here to view the September newsletter for more background on the See-D contest.

The innovation workshop stage of the See-D contest ended in October and was a huge success. The See-D innovation workshop consisted of five workshops and a one-week field study to East Timor. Read more

Winroader's donation fully funds "Computers for Beonsila Cooperativa" project

Winroader, a Japanese logistics company with a new recycling business (called eco-land), is generously donating part of its profit to support Kopernik projects. On 10th November, Winroader will provide Kopernik with 168,950JPY (approximately US$2000).

The donated money will be allocated to the "Computers for Beonsila Cooperativa" project. The initiative has currently raised US$2493 through the Kopernik website and these funds will ensure that the target of US$4277 is achieved and the project implemented.

Now fully funded, the "Computers for Beonsila Cooperativa" initiative will provide Beonsila Cooperative with access to green computers and will assist in bridging the digital divide in East Timor.

Turning wine into water

On 23rd October, Kopernik team members Adam and Dom hosted a wine themed fundraising event in Tokyo to support a Kopernik project which provides rural Ugandans with safe drinking water by purchasing and distributing Solvatten, a solar powered water treatment technology. Please click here for further information on this project.

With around 70 attendees the event was a huge success and raised a grand total of 660,000 JPY (US$8183) for Kopernik projects. The money raised far exceeded expectations and will ensure the water project in Uganda is fully funded and implemented with enough left over to support additional water-based projects. Read more

Kopernik fellow Takuro arrives in Kenya

Kopernik fellow Takuro Haraguchi has arrived in Kenya to observe how appropriate technologies change peoples’ lives in developing countries and to obtain crucial feedback from end-users.
 
While at university, Takuro planned to research water purification to address current water issues in the world. However, he felt that his current knowledge of the way people live in the developing world, the issues they faced and the role technology could play was not sufficient. So instead Takuro decided to spend time in Kenya to fully understand the bigger picture. Read more

Get involved with Kopernik: Volunteer opportunities

We are currently seeking an experienced camera person to travel to Oecusse, Timor-Leste in early January 2011 to shoot and edit a short film about Kopernik projects.  This is a volunteer assignment but costs will be covered. Please write to kopernik@thekopernik.org if interested.

We are receiving applications for a Kopernik Fellow to work in  Oecusse, Timor-Leste from January 2011 for at least two months.  This is an exciting opportunity for those interested in appropriate technology and its application. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree and experience in developing countries. Please write to kopernik@thekopernik.org if interested.