Think before you donate to disasters.

In the wake of floods, hurricanes and other recent disasters, many people with the best intentions will flood to donate to the survivors. Some will like posts on Facebook and share the news, others will donate blankets, clothes and other items. The government disaster response teams will provide food, shelter and clean water. There will also be other smaller groups that may be interested in going down to volunteer and bring aid to the survivors.

In reality, not all aid is equal. In some scenarios, the canned food and bottled water given to survivors create a second disaster of waste management. Even the biggest NGOs on the field are unable to distribute clothing, toys and blankets well, and once soiled, it may breed bacteria and cause health problems.

Following any disaster, waste management is a big issue. Although it is important to support the survivors, rushing to donate old clothes and other non-essential items may not be a good idea as most NGOs don’t have the capacity to manage these non-essential logistics. It will be left aside and get damage and in time, create more problems.

On the case of bottled water, this is the worst thing to send. It does not make sense at all, both financially and logistically. Sending 100,000 liters of water a day for 40,000 people can cost up to $300,000 and for large NGOs to purify the same amount of water, will cost $300 and there will be no plastic waste.

Donating to large international NGOs usually mean that a lot of foreign relief aid will be imported into the affected countries. Most disasters, even the large scale ones are rather isolated. Floods and earthquake areas rarely extend over 10km, and there will be local businesses which are open for business post disasters, but they will be excluded from relief by the international NGOs. The businesses in the foreign countries will be the ones who benefit from the disaster.

In the long run, these aids do affect the local economies adversely and your well intentioned donations will cause harm to the financial eco-system. What’s worse, some international organizations are managed off site in another country and bureaucracy may cause massive waste and inefficiencies.

So what can you do?

There are always many innovative locals with solutions on hand. During Hurricane Sandy, a group Occupy Relief Sandy hacked the Amazon Wedding Registry to create a disaster registry. People with needs can get the things they need, like diapers, milk formula, detergents and flashlights, and nothing goes to waste.  Local groups usually buy locally and donating to them will benefit the local eco-system.

Instead of donating immediately, you can hold back donations and think about visiting the disaster areas when things are more stabilized to spend tourism money which goes directly into the local eco-system. Buying local products from the affected area is one of the most important things to do to help recovery as the economic recovery is usually ignored by most organizations.

Contact friends / alumni / colleagues in the disaster areas. Their local knowledge and by the fact they are right there in the disaster area, will know which is the most effective way of supporting the survivors. Every disaster is different and getting ground knowledge on the ever changing disaster is the most effective way to provide the right kind of support needed.

The people in the disaster areas are not victims, and do not need your pity. They are survivors and despite the great disaster, they still prevail. They did not ask for your help and do not expect gratitude. A doctor is still a doctor, and disasters destroy infrastructure but local capacity remains. We need to engage survivors and support them in the recovery. Disasters create survivors and it is our collective responsibility that we do not create a system which turns them into refugees.

-- Robin Low

Giving the next generation more options.

Programming far becoming an important skill to have. It gives options, options to use your creativity and innovation to solve problems. While more schools are focusing on basic programming training, what happens to the homeless children or refugee kids?

Relief 2.0 is testing a pilot now as we believe that with a low cost tablet -- Amazon Fire Tablet -- we can load the 16GB tablet that costs under US$60 with many free programs which can teach the simple concept of programming.

With several carefully curated programs, Relief 2.0 have started to allow the kids to learn coding, by coding their own games.

We learned a lot during the experience. Some kids are just to have fun with the tablet, while others are serious to learn to make their own game. As the training progressed, and when some kids have a partially working game, the others want to learn too.

The peer learning part is especially tricky. There is a strong bias towards doing it for the other kids as they do not know how to explain it properly, and the other kids may be asking too many probing questions, but when we watch and monitor the peer learning and make sure they do not do the code for the other kids, we start to see success.

There are some kids who are more advanced, and some less advanced, and getting the kids who know more to teach the other kids make them grasp the concepts better.

Within the next few days, the kids have created their own games and are starting to add features which they see in other games. There needs to be a good balance of learning and fun, where their short attention span can still focus on putting the features they want into their game.

Well, this is a test, and we do have already >10 tablets which we use for training adult refugees as well. Once we have this model formalized, we plan to scale up and get more kids involved in the program across Europe. Of course at that point, we will be planning to raise some funds on scaling up and partnering other organizations to cover some bits which they are not doing.

-- Robin Low

Swiss grass cutting tech

Have you ever wondered how the grass is cut nicely everywhere in Switzerland? And most of the time, on slopes and without lines like when you use a lawn mower?

The answer is: Vache Swiss (Cows)

Meeting Changemakers at the Klosters Forum

I'm in Klosters, Switzerland for the Klosters Forum. It is simply amazing to be here.

Being in a beautiful and peaceful place really does bring out your creativity and remove distractions. Its a great place to relax and focus on what is at hand.

There were so many interesting people. Amazing change makers in the room, all working on critical parts of the well being of Refugees. The stories that were shared were very moving and there were many insights which could be learned from people working in different regions.

There was also a talk on animal conservation, and it seems like the refugees, people living in poverty and other stakeholders should be included as there are a lot of difficulties faced which could be really solved through community engagement.

I've met many experts in the field and really humbled by their experiences and stories. I hope we can learn, collaborate and share with each other to do our work better.

Sadly, there are not much "free spaces" where groups can come and discuss without self censorships. And there some space for that to happen at this Forum. When it is critical, all options should be on the table regardless if it is politically right.

I presented the Relief 2.0 projects and our Civil Innovation Lab concept and was well received. http://relief20.com/immipact

Many smaller groups are interested to work with us on our platform and hopefully we can work together to create value.

-- Robin Low

Short Social Fiction: Adventures of Tupi 6

(Day 23)

The time Tupi spent in Bali is finally coming to an end. Tupi met many new friends and visited a lot of different areas in Bali. Christopher is one of his new friends. Christopher has been volunteering for many organizations, and most of them in constructing and building for marginalized communities.

"So Christopher, since you have been to so many trips before, is this trip considered normal?" Tupi asked.

"What do you mean?" Christopher asked.

"You know, this feels like a tour. We did not even do much in the village..." 

"Well, we paid for the filter, taught the kids English. Without us, they would not have clean water."

"Why were we here for 10 days when it took 2 days for the water tower to be built. Will it even last long?" 

"Well, we did pay for contractors to come prepare the location before we come, that is why things are much faster. Sometime we have to do most of the work. I think the water tower and filter looks good. Anyway, we are not the one using, so why bother?"

Tupi paused for a while and said "Why does it feel like a tour?"

"I don't think people who come want to suffer. It has to be enjoyable and since we are in the country, why not sight see and learn more about the community?"

Christopher was right. It was an enjoyable vacation, and certainly Tupi did not sign up to suffer. Everything was paid for, and although the bulk of the money went to visiting the various sites and possibly accommodations and meals, there would not be a water filter if it were not for the group.

"I think this is kind of fun." Tupi said. "I'd like to do more, and Christopher, if you have some that are more challenging, please call me, maybe I'd like to come along as well."

They arrived at the airport and it was a rather uneventful flight back. Tupi smiled, he has done something good and it felt good.

Short Social Fiction: Adventures of Tupi 5

(Day 15)

After the drinking and party the night before, the group met up for breakfast again and left for the village. Everyone looked tired and the bus ride to the village was quiet. Some of the volunteers had to run classes for the students and Tupi went to the water tank. The contractors were already fitting the pipes and within the hour, the water tank was starting to be filled up.

Tupi helped with the installation of the filters and was impressed that the filters seemed relatively well made. As they put up the filters and run the pipes through, there was a cracking sound and the cement base of the water tank started to crack.

"Is this normal?" Tupi asked.

"Don't worry, we will put another layer..." One of the construction worker said.

"Isn't this the foundation?" Tupi asked.

"This is just top... its ok..." The man said.

The construction workers connected the pipes to the filters and the filters were active. The first bit of water was allowed to flow out and Tupi could already see the clear water and was very excited that he contributed to this.

The construction workers then added another layer of cement to cover the cracks. Tupi was a little concerned that they were covering up the proof of an unstable base but from years of corporate training, speaking up was something he suppressed to stay in corporate Singapore. 

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After allowing the water to run through the pipes for 15 minutes, the guide came by and looked at the project and chatted with the workers. Tupi sat under the tree and enjoyed the breeze. Soon it was lunch time and everyone given a glass of filtered water. Tupi felt accomplished as the water was clear and free from smells. 

The bell rang and the school had the recess and all the kids came out and ran to meet everyone at the water filter. The kids queued up to drink and they seemed very satisfied with the water and the ecstacy on their faces when they drank the water was indeed priceless. This moment made the whole trip worth it. 

Tupi took out his camera and took some photos of the new filter and the children in the school. Michael came by and took a photo of a kid bring Tupi a cup of water. The task was over -- mission complete. 

Over the next few hours, the group visited the popular tourist spots and they had a nice seafood dinner. When Tupi returned to his bed late night, he was tired but happy. He felt he has accomplished something and this experience will stay with him forever.

Short Social Fiction: Adventures of Tupi 4

(Day 14)

Tupi got up the next morning feeling rather tired. Perhaps his enthusiasm has waned a little, Michael went and got his shower first while Tupi laid in bed feeling a little restless and unmotivated. His throat was dry and he needed to pee.

After Michael was done, Tupi went into the shower and cleaned himself. The water was hot for a while but it became cold again as the hot water tank ran out of hot water. It was uncomfortable but somehow Tupi did not care enough and continued his shower.

At breakfast, Tupi was rather quiet. Tupi did not attempt to make any small talk or get to know anyone. There was a large spread at the breakfast buffet -- there was a western part with potatoes, toast and eggs, and a Muslim side with coconut rice, fried fish, Otar, Ikan Billis (Fried Anchovies) and sambal sauce.

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Tupi had Nasi Lemak for breakfast. The rice was perfectly made, with a strong fragrant of Pandan leaves and coconut milk, the sambal sauce was perfect, great texture and consistency, giving it the right kick. The right breakfast really did brighten the mood for Tupi. With a cup of bandung (Rose Syrup + Carnation Milk Drink ) Tupi felt ready to face his challenges for the day.

At 8:30am, the group leader gathered everyone as the chartered bus arrived brought them to the village. Along the road, there were power lines and electricity. The roads were relatively bumpy with potholes and there was no sidewalks. On the side of the road, some children were chasing chickens around and there were some bulls on the farms.

Tupi arrived at a primary school. It was about 9am, so all the kids were in class. The group was given a tour of the school, and it was not much different from Tupi's old school. This school has running water and electricity. As Tupi walked by the classes, the kids in neat school uniforms looked at him as he walked by. The school still uses the old projection monitor and transparencies. Tupi smiled as he remembered using that to do a presentation when he was in school.

"This school has over 400 kids." The guide said as they arrive at the central quadrangle in the school. "Most of them come from this village but some do take a bus from the surrounding villages to attend. We keep the class size to under 40 kids and we have very good teachers here."

"My class has 44 students when I was in school in Singapore" Tupi muttered. "They have better quality education here..."

"Your task today is to help put together this water tower. The water pump will pump water up and it will be filtered by these filters when you turn on the taps here." The guide said. "I don't need all of you here, some who want to so English lessons with the kids can join the story secession over there."

Tupi was ready for the water tower. As he went to the toilet, he saw the flushing water with a light tint. "They have water, but it is not clean..." Tupi said and there was suddenly a black out. Tupi went back to the ground and there were some people trying to start the generators at the back of the school. "Are blackouts common?" Tupi asked and one of the men cranking the generator nodded.

Tupi spent the day in the hot sun helping to erect the water tower. the foundation was already built by construction workers and several people were needed to help with the pulley system to put it up. As the tank was getting installed on top of the tower, the guide returned to explain how the water filter works.

"The water is pumped up to the main tanks. The main tank has a chlorine mixer to kill bacteria, and the water is then coming through the filters which have sand and rocks to filter out particles and eventually comes out these pipes." The guide explains while everyone nodded.

Tupi looked at the finished water filter system. The tank on top was very big and the filter tank was much smaller. The cement base looks like just a thin layer of cement and there was already a slight depression when the water tank was installed, even before the water was in the tank.

"Is this structure stable?" Tupi asked the guide.

"Not complete yet. We need to put another layer and finish up before we put water." The guide said and Tupi nodded.

The group washed up. There was several clean towels, clean water and refreshments for everyone. "Have you built something like this before?" Tupi asked another volunteer beside him.

"Yup, been to a few trips... very meaningful." The man said.

"So this is pretty much it?" Tupi asked. "The tower is up... I mean they finish off something else, but our part is done?"

"Yup, great job guys..." The man said.

Tupi expected a lot more. The whole activity was underwhelming. There were contractors building for the most part and all he did was to erect the structure.

The school was surrounded by a lush rain forest. The sunlight filtering through the leaves make interesting patterns on the ground and the cool breeze blowing on Tupi's face is very relaxing. Tupi's whiskers twitched as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment. He felt calm, relaxed and away from all the previous job stress he had, then again, he is currently unemployed.

Just sitting under the tree was an experience Tupi had not felt for a long time, and he appreciated the much needed break. Then a familiar scent fills the air. It comes from the houses nearby and the sweet scent of coconut milk reminds him of the Nasi Lemak he ate for breakfast.


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Nasi Lemak takes a long time to prepare. It may look like a simple dish, but to make good Nasi Lemak, it should be made with good ingredients, giving it good texture, color, flavor and quality.

The difference between a good Nasi Lemak and an exceptionally marvelous Nasi Lemak lies in the use of pandan leaves. It gives the whole dish a fragrant flavor which many restaurants can't even have nowadays.

The other main ingredient of nasi lemak is dried anchovies, also known as ikan bilis. These little salted fish are used in the sambal. As sambal is of the essence when making Nasi Lemak, a weak sambal or one that is too thick can easily spoil the dish.


Nasi Lemak (4 servings)

Ingredients for Coconut Rice:

2 cups coconut milk (in 2 separate cups)
2 cups water
2 Pandan leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1 (1/2 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cups long grain rice, rinsed and drained

Instructions:
1. Wash and drain rice.
2. Place rice, sugar, salt into rice cooker.
3. Add 1 cup of coconut milk and 2 cups of water and turn on the rice cooker.
4. Add the Pandan leaves and fresh ginger
5. When mixture is about to boil, add the remaining cup of coconut milk and stir.



Ingredients for Sambal Ikan Billis

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3 shallots, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons chili paste
1 tablespoon of belacan (prawn paste)
1 (4 ounce) package white anchovies (Ikan Billis), washed salt to taste
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup tamarind juice
1 cup raw peanuts

Instructions:

1. Blend shallots and garlic.
2. Fry anchovies in the oil in low heat until they turn golden brown. Strain and set aside.
3. Add some oil in wok and fry the belacan in low heat until it releases flavor.
4. Add chili paste and sliced onion to fry -- stir well.
5. Add in the fried anchovies and stir.
6. Add  tamarind juice
7. Season with salt and sugar.
8. Fry up the raw peanuts, coat them in oil and fry them till they are golden brown.
9. You can add then to the sambal ikan billis or served them separate on the side.


Other Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 cucumber
4 Ikan Kuning (Nasi Lemak Fish)

Instructions:

1. Fry up with eggs sunny side up.
2. Deep fry the fish until it is golden brown and crispy.
2. Slice up the cucumber


Plate the rice, put the sambal ikan billis on the side and add the fried egg and fried fish along with cucumber.

It is also common to add a fried chicken, fried hot dogs and fried luncheon meat on the side.

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