Technology for the Poor
Technology improves and increases at a rapid rate.
The PC now has the power of a mainframe computer in the 1960s!
For less than S$2,000, we now have in our hands an amazing tool
that would have cost millions a couple of decades ago. Yet in
many third world countries, technology has not been used as the
people are too poor. S$2,000 is a fortune to a villager in
Cambodia. Companies do not invest in technology to help the poor
since there is no market for such products, no market in the
sense that no one can afford to pay for them. But there is a
need, a desperate need to use technology in simple, cost- effective ways that will improve the lives of the poor.
At Operation Hope, we strive to work with partners so that
together we can bring technology into the villagers of third-world countries.
Operation Hope is keen to work with tertiary
institutions on how technology can be used to improve
the lives of the poor. These can be students ' projects
and offer the students an opportunity to solve problems
creatively. The key is to find a very low cost solution
that is reliable and makes a significant difference to
their lives.
Students can be challenged to find
innovative solutions to various problems. Solar Ovens
are simple designs which can be understood by most
Secondary School students. They can work on a solar oven
design that can be rotated to follow the sun, is
reliable , robust and most important of all, cheap to
produce.
Companies that have special resources
and skills can allow their employees to work on projects
for the poor. Often these innovative solutions may find
good use elsewhere and may in fact, ended up as
profitable ventures. What is offered by Operation Hope
is an opportunity to look at new problems and find new
solutions. Old technology can be put to good use in new
and exciting ways!
If you have green fingers or have a
hobby such as fish farming, your expertise can be very
useful. Use your God-given talents to increase the
income of the poor.
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Solar Oven |
Millions of
people still uses firewood to cook. A Solar Oven
is a cost- effective way to cook and OHF has
developed one that can cook rice and roast
chicken... all using the heat from the sun! |
Micro Drip Irrigation |
This
technology allows farmers to grow crops with
much less water. In many parts of the world,
the dry season is the hungry season as
farmers are unable to grow crops because of
the lack of water. Micro Drip may be the
solution. |
Ferrocement Tanks |
Water is a
scarce and precious resource. Ferrocement
tanks are low- cost solutions that enable the
villagers to store large amount of water for
drinking and farming. |
Making Compost |
Compost is
nature's free fertiliser. Yet many farmers
are unaware of how easily they can turn
leaves into compost which can improve the
yield of their crops. Better, faster and
cheaper ways of making compost are needed! |
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