For Grand Rapids physician, Dale Williams, M.D., humanitarian aid is nothing new. As founder of what is now known as the Koinonia Foundation, in 1973, the faith-based organization provided health care to impoverished residents in the Muskegon area for twenty years. During that time Williams was also reaching out to developing countries as a missionary, setting up clinics and schools.
In 1995-1996, with the help of son, Andrew Williams, also a missionary, the Williams duo began expanding their humanitarian efforts to those who survived the horrific acts of genocide during the mid-1990's as they began rebuilding their lives in the re-settlement camps of Goma, Rwanda.
A few years later while visiting a school in Rwanda, Dr. Williams observed, "We were in an area where they had English, French and Science, but no computers. I figured no education is complete without computers."
The concept of introducing computer technology into Rwandan classrooms has been a monumental task, given the fact that 75% of the country is still without electricity today.
In 2004, Dr. Williams was introduced to Michigan engineer, William Greenhoe, who had a background in innovative energy product development, with what has now become Harding Energy, and he began designing solar systems for the Koinonia organization. The organization has since established several schools and clinics in Rwanda, equipping the buildings with custom solar installations as their power source. Computers became a reality in 2005.
Joined by a host of volunteers over the years, Dr. Williams has been somewhat of a pied piper in enlisting some top-notch professionals to carry out the organization's expanding program offerings. Along with Greenhoe, Martin Graber, M.D., and Nicholas Pietrangelo, D.O., joined the team of professionals.
"We are very lucky to have some great people on board," said Dr. Williams, modestly, "Maybe God sends us the right people."
Dr. Williams described an informal brainstorming session a few years ago, "We were just sitting around talking one night talking about what was needed. We got on kerosene lights which are very dangerous. They're very unhealthy and can cause cancer, and they're expensive."
The conversation ultimately led to the development of the K-light (the K designates the Koinonia name) a solar powered LED lantern about the size of a pop can that lasts for several years. The three physicians and the engineer, along with Williams' son, Peter Williams, formed Pan's Innovative Science and Technology LLC (PiSAT Solar) in 2005, as a separate for-profit entity to expand their efforts in developing countries.
Koinonia's Beacon Program is set up as a unique part-philanthropic and part-for-profit distribution arm for the K-light solar lanterns. It encourages economic growth and poverty reduction by assisting women in creating sustainable businesses in Rwanda. The Foundation provides Rwandan women with business training and a supply of the solar-powered lanterns to start their business.
"Our foundation is all about education," said Ashley Garrigan, Director of Operations for the Koinonia Foundation, who oversees the Beacon Program. "With the Beacon Program, not only are we helping women with business training, they can decide where they spend their profits. They can use them to send their children to school. They're being treated like business women, and that's really important."
Garrigan said that while there were many rewards with the Beacon Program, like any business endeavor, it is not without challenges. "The lantern is not inexpensive. And while kerosene is expensive, they can purchase a little bit at a time. With the K-light you are making an investment that will last 10 years. That's why we're working on micro-loans so they can sit down and determine what their customers can pay. We want to help protect the women to make sure they (their customers) can pay for it."
As for what's next for the Beacon Program, Garrigan said, "We expanded the program to 40 women in less than a year. We're looking to expand again in December. After that, East Africa may be next. We've also had inquiries from a women's group in Kenya. And, there's a distributor in Tanzania, so that might be a next logical expansion, as well."
Dr. Williams summed up his humanitarian views this way, "One of my favorite pictures is one of a young boy at a school turning on a computer for the first time. He has a big smile on his face....My message to others: go out and help the poor."
The Koinonia Foundation is based in Grand Rapids, MI
PiSAT Solar is also based in Grand Rapids, MI, with offices in Tianjin, China and Kigali, Rwanda
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Comments
Great article. Sounds like this organization is doing a great job.
What a wonderful story! Once again reading something uplifting and positive in an otherwise troubled news day is encouraging and inspirational...this group is the perfect example of how one, by one we can change the world for the better. Thank you.
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