Here's a situation:
Rural communities in Cambodia rely on charcoal production as one of their sources for income. The process technology is inefficient, the only wood they get from is through illegal logging, and due to the inefficient production process, the profit margin is small - even though charcoal production contributes to more than 50% of the community's income.
Then comes GERES (Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités) - who introduced and built the Yoshimura kiln for the Cambodian rural households, managed to increase the production efficiency to 30% (less wood is used to produce the same amount of charcoal) and to improve and further standardize the charcoal products to be sold at premium (and higher) price.
Additionally, Yoshimura kiln generates wood vinegar as by-products of the charcoal production process, which can be sold at the supermarket for cooking and agriculture purposes.
From an individually manipulative and environmentally degrading process, the project turn around what is a major economic activity of the Cambodian rural community into a social enterprise project.
I learned about the project from a training organised by the Italian Trade Commission, the presenter was a young man, perhaps no more 5 years older than myself. His presentation was enthusiastically received, and as I was sitting there, listening to his interactive debate with the audience, I looked around and saw among other, palm oil veterans and university professors, I thought to myself; where are the young?
Where are our young?
4 comments:
That's a good question.. Perhaps if we could somehow pose world issues or community concerns as a form of entertainment - preferably through singing and/or dancing - I bet the lecture halls and workshops would be jam-packed! >_<
But honestly Ati, where's the surprise? Judging from the current political fiasco our nation is facing, adults aren't faring that much better in the growing up department.. Bapak borek anak rintik, wasn't that the saying?
Our PM making immature personal jabs to the supposedly injured opposition on live TV.. As far as reflections to the outside world is concerned, it doesn't get any worse than that.. (=_=)v
our youngsters were thrown on the streets
Ah, but Kak Sofie, I'm reluctant to accept "that because our elderly aren't doing much better, why should we?" justification.
Don't you think our lengthy conversations are way, way overdue?
Remember how we used to sit in my/your room or in the car and just talk about what goes on our mind to our heart's content?
I miss that time.
Pojan,
I wish to know our inspiring young, all of them.
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