Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group AIDG Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group “Sustainable Solutions for the Infrastructure Needs of the Rural Poor”
Agenda State of Current Affairs Introduction to AIDG AIDG Technologies AIDG In Action Call To Action
State of Current Affairs Poor Global Infrastructure –Large populations with limited access to basics –Reality check: limited global resources Existing Solutions –Centralized, not localized –Resolve and cause problems simultaneously –Complex & expensive –Non-scalable
Implications Increased poverty Further division of rich & poor Global instability Environmental destruction
Solutions: Sustainable Development What is Sustainable Development? “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainability Triangle: Economic Development, Ecologic Integrity, Equity What is Appropriate Infrastructure? 1.Affordable 2.Environmentally Sound 3.Repairable
What Is AIDG? “ AIDG seeks to increase the use of appropriate technologies in developing countries through education, training, outreach, and business incubation.”
How Does AIDG Work? A Business Model To Create Change Market-based development strategy Spreads appropriate technology solutions through incubation of small employee- owned businesses Previous workshops help AIDG techs to train new workshop employees After 3 yrs, business is transitioned to a worker-owned cooperative
AIDG Technologies Affordable
AIDG Technologies Environmentally Sound
AIDG Technologies Repairable
AIDG In Action! August AIDG began training at its 1st manufacturing facility 10 engineering, electrical, & metal-working specialists Xela Teco will transition into a worker- owned cooperative
Assistance To Workshop Financial Assistance –Seed capital –Community exposure through grant supported and pre-negotiated projects Material & Equipment Procurement Business Planning –Market Analysis –Client Procurement –Financial planning
Assistance To Workshop Technical Assistance –Access to Technology, Training, Product Development, Quality Control, Good Manufacturing Practices –Computer training, Web development
Providing a living wage Prudencio Lopez 72 years old, Prudencio was born and lives in Quetzaltenango. Weeks Before being hired by Xela Techo, Prudencio lost his job as a teacher of metalworking at the Taller Agotón-Boj, a school- workshop dedicated to restoring historic buildings. Xela Teco Hired him to teach the team metalworking, soldering and welding. Living wages for individuals an appropriate technologies for the community.
Xela Teco Technologies Biodigesters: Biodigester technology offers a low cost and environmentally sound solution to several needs facing farmers, namely waste management, energy and fertilizer Windmills: The Axial flux windmill design can produce from 1.2 to 3.3 kilowatts for community centers, radial flux windmills mills are smaller and produce around 300 watts suited for homes.
Xela Teco Technologies Water Pumps: Lack of access to clean water is a leading cause of diarrheal and other diseases and a major contributor to mortality in children under the age of five. Solution: Ram pumps & Hand/Bike Pumps. Micro-Hydroelectric Solutions: Micro-hydro setups use stream or river water diverted with PVC pipe in mountainous or hilly areas to a drop where the water is shot from custom jet into an injection molded plastic turbine blade.
Casa Guatemala Casa Guatemala: Provided a sustainable technology source of energy to Casa Guatemala
Long-term plans Previous workshops help AIDG techs to train new workshop employees
Questions? Recent news? What Does AIDG Need? How Can You Help? Thank You! Ben Lee