Kopernik

We’re big fans of women in the Kopernik office.

In a coup for gender balance, exactly half of our team members here in Ubud are women.

But when it comes to our projects, we don’t aim for balance. We think that women deserve an extra helping hand when it comes to household chores like cooking and collecting water. That’s why many of the technologies we work with are specifically designed to help make life easier for women in the developing world.

Think back to February 2010. Vancouver was hosting the Winter Olympics, the first generation iPad was still a month away from being released, and a Snowicane hit New York, bringing the city to a halt.

But most importantly for us, on 19 February 2010 Kopernik was born.

It was only a few years ago, but already it feels like much longer.

In just three years we have reached more than 90,000 people in 13 countries with life-changing technology.

We relocated from snowy New York to sunny Bali, and our team has grown to 20 people.

Take a generous cup of holiday spirit, a pint of fun, two tablespoons of live music and a bushel of keen bakers and gastronomes. Gently mix together and what do you have? Japan’s first Cooks4Cooks fundraiser for Kopernik!

Tadg McLoughlin and his lovely wife Mika hosted this event on a Sunday afternoon in December at Tadg’s Irish Bar & Restaurant in Kyoto.

Planning a trip to Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands is a life dream for surfing fanatics. This chain of 70 islands off the coast of West Sumatra is a surfer’s paradise, boasting countless world-class surf breaks. But below the surface of beautiful beaches and luxury surf resorts, life in the Mentawai Islands can be tough.

The same conditions that create perfect waves are also what have kept the Mentawai Islands relatively isolated - strong winds, fierce currents and shallow reefs have limited navigation and trade with the mainland.

What do you see when you picture Bali? Beautiful virgin beaches with white sand? Eco-cycling by lush, green rice paddies? Or indulging in a relaxing Balinese spa?

Well, those are exactly the kind of images that I would have in my mind too.

But last week, I had the chance to see a different side of Bali.

What happens in a classroom full of curious elementary school kids when you introduce some very cool, new learning technologies? According to my recent experience, the answer to that would be: a fun and exciting learning experience.