Demotech - design for self reliance: More Joy Per Person
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 06.10.05
Following last week’s post on Design For The World we continue our search for social design activists this week by bringing you the wonder that is Demotech. I am sure there are many people out there who have great ideas about how to improve daily life through design, using appropriate technologies and sustainable materials.
I am also sure that many of these well meaning people, myself included, for one reason or another never quite get round to implementing these ideas. Then every once in a blue moon there is that one person who actually does what they say they are going to do. In this case the one man band is a Dutchman called Reinder Van Tijen. For 30 years or more, with a skeletal network of voluntary support, he has been working to improve the daily lives of those living in small communities. He has made innovations and improvements to hundreds of designs for appropriate technologies. He works on developing new making techniques, using locally available materials, in the simplest and most economic way possible. Demotech has produced Rope Pumps using flip flops, bicycles made of tin, night lights from dead batteries, kitchens from bamboo, and currently is reinventing the wheel – no kidding! The ultimate aim of these projects is to increase self-reliance in communities, demonstrating that through innovative design, people can support themselves with what they have around them. The resulting self-empowerment hopefully brings economic gain and most importantly ‘more joy per person’. ::Demotech [by Leonora & Petz]
Wow, they really know what they're doing.
Thanks Leonora & Petz. Love this sort of stuff. Inspiring.
The Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) do similar great work.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/12/_intermediate_t.php
my opinion, I'm planing a mission trip to Haiti this year. These people are yes in need, not only in technology, but in spiritual need as well, I feel, once they have knowledge of God, the difference between right and wrong. Just maybe, the people of Haiti will strive to better them selves. I'm a proffetional photographer and I will be there to capture the images of there imotions, as we present gifts to all the villages we will visit. Our gifts will be personal hygien items, dress, bibles and work books. On a note to you, we will not give any gift away without asking the Haiti women to preform a good deed first, a small task of helping us in cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, setting up for our conference. We know
Cristian mothers will teach their children about Christ. This begins the cultural changes that will bring freedom to them. Year after year as we visit the same villages we see hope and change, and that is most rewarding for a job well done.
So lets not give up on those in need. Life is good, Thanks to God. alena
Hello! I salute to the one who made an initiative on this program. Congratulations. If its possible, can you give me contact email add of Reinder van Tijen. Thank you and more power.
Cha-Philippines