In 2005 Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG)
was formed in the U.S.
to tackle the issue of poor infrastructure development in many countries. The
organization's first project has been taking place in Guatemala since
2005, where they have formed micro-manufacturing enterprises. These enterprises
produce technologies that can be used throughout the country. By 2008 the
organization will expand its efforts to the Dominican
Republic and Haiti.
AIDG combines training, education, outreach, along with
business development to bring new environmental sound technologies to the areas
they work in. Many of the technologies that are implemented have been presented
by university groups who
then get a chance to test their technology on the
ground through the organization's internship program. The organization's
business development program seeks out local engineering talent in the
communities they work with, and helps them form new businesses that will
provide benefit to the community they operate in. Through these new businesses
AIDG conducts outreach to the surrounding community finding ways to implement
technologies to build a stronger infrastructure. Some technologies that AIDG
has used include
biodigestors,
alcohol stoves, solar water purification, and small scale windmills. For more
information on AIDG please visit their
website.
