FoST - Foundation of Sustainable Technologies - in Nepal is not targeting one certain group or one certain problem. They are looking for answers and solutions to stop the vicious circle the rural and urban poor are facing not only in Nepal, but on our whole planet.

With their simple, but highly effective solutions they are fighting important global problems such as:

- POVERTY  - by educating and empowering communities, creating opportunities for them to earn extra money and even start their own business

- POLLUTION - by introducing more sustainable technologies and clean renewable energies such as solar power for daily use

- WASTE AND GARBAGE - by making briquettes for fuel - briquettes are made of available waste such as paper, carton, agricultural residues or crop leftovers, such as rice and wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, banana stalk fiber and grass clippings, leaves, saw dust and so much more...

 

- DEFORESTATION  - by using briquettes made from waste instead of wood for daily cooking

                                     

- DESERTIFICATION / LANDSLIDES  - caused by clearing of trees and plants for firewood used for cooking and heating - briquettes can be used instead

- ILLNESSES CAUSED BY INDOOR AIR POLLUTION such as eye and lung diseases - by introducing more efficient cooking stoves creating less smoke

 

- ILLNESSES CAUSED BY CONTAMINATED WATER such as diarrhoea, parasites, cholera... - by introducing simple water purification systems working on solar power

- ILLNESSES CAUSED BY LACK OF HYGIENE  - by introducing simple hygienic solar drying devices to dry food, so that food is longer kept and of better quality. But also by introducing solar water pasteurizing and heat capturing devices so that water and food are bacteria free.

- HIGH FUEL COSTS FOR COOKING - by teaching people how to make their own fuel briquettes from waste materials, therefor lowering their daily costs of fuel (20% of daily costs). Fuels such as fire wood, kerosene and L.P. gas are becoming more and more expensive all over the world.

- OUTCASTS - by empowering and educating orphans, handicapped, blind, deaf, mentally retarded, people suffering from diseases or suffering because of an accident... FoST empowers them by education and teaches them skills enabling them to be independent and even important to the community.

                         
   
- TIME CONSUMING DAILY TASKS such as fetching wood for cooking - by creating more efficient cooking devices - cooking on waste briquettes and / or solar power.

-  DRUDGERY OF POOR WOMEN in rural communities in Nepal - by education and empowerment - offering these women interactive training workshops and seminars to become more independent.



WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES BY FOST?

The organization FoST is providing low-cost, low-tech, easily adaptable and locally built sustainable technologies to improve the lives of the poor people living in the rural areas of Nepal and to protect the very fragile environment of Nepal.

They have been providing wide selection of products for cooking, drying, heat retaining and water purification using both solar and other environment-friendly sustainable technologies.

They are also working to further empower Nepalis, especially women and handicaped, by providing training and employment opportunities through projects designed to create micro-enterprises in sustainable technology.

With very limited resources they are doing research and they are constantly evaluating existing sustainable technologies and adapting them to the specific resources and needs of Nepal.

FoST is also offering education to improve the lives of the poor people living in the rural areas of Nepal. They regularly organize interactive training workshops and seminars for community members and schools to educate the public on the need for sustainable technologies and to protect the very fragile environment.

 

For more info: www.fost-nepal.org