Foundation for Sustainable Technologies

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Last edited: 19 March 2024

The Foundation for Sustainable Technologies (FoST) does projects in the rural communities of Nepal focusing on empowering women:

• How to cook food, pasteurize water, and dry food in the sun.
• How to use solar energy to save time and costly fuel.
• How to do retained-heat cooking.
• How to reduce household air pollution.
• How to manage wastes and convert them into fuel briquettes.
• How to empower women community in rural areas through sustainable technologies.

All our efforts address the empowerment of women and aim at establishing a sustainable kitchen in the rural communities. We mostly cover four burning issues: (a) energy and environment, (b) water-borne and smoke-borne diseases, (c) indoor air pollution, and (d) income generation. Based on these things, FoST has developed a wide range of environment-friendly, easily-applicable, sustainable technologies for improving the quality of life of rural communities. We are exploring donors' support for continuing and expanding these efforts. In 2013, FoST began a partnership with Solar Cookers International, which provides funds for training in solar cooking, improved cookstoves, briquette-making, and retained-heat cooking technologies to people with little access to biomass fuel.

News

• Photo credit: Little Stars e.V.

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• NEW: March 2024: Sanu Kaji Shrestha, the founder of Foundation for Sustainable Technologies in Nepal, reports the organization, Little Stars e.V., facilitated the project, and FoST provided the parabolic solar cookers, briquette presses, and heat-retention baskets, as well as the training, to 10 families in Nepal, helping to offset the lack of available firewood for cooking. More solar cooker packages will be made available for families if the pilot project is successful. Click through the attached gallery to see photos.

• December 2023: Student training at Everest English School, Bhaktapur - On 17 December 2023, FoST founder Sanu Kaji Shrestha and assistants conducted student workshop sessions focussing on utilizing the sun's energy. While at home, or at school, a variety of items can be assembled from household and the school's paper-based and green wastes. Sanu explained there were about 150 students divided in three shifts - 13th, 15th and 17th December 2023 from Everest English School, Bhaktapur. He relayed hearty thanks to Principal Bhakta Raj Sir for selecting the students of 8th, 9th and 10th levels, and arranging the logistics.

Students gather to hear Sanu Kaji Shrestha explain about solar energy

a parabolic solar cooker is demonstrated

Students experience the power of solar energy firsthand

Recognition at the end of the workshop

Sanu Kaji Shrestha, second from left

Photo credits: FoST

• July 2022: Student training in Swostishree Gurukul, Nepal - Students of Grade -VIII attended an experimental and hands-on training session on ' Sustainable solutions of ever-growing energy and environmental crises in Nepal' organized by Foundation for Sustainable Technology at Thamel, Kathmandu. Managing Director Mina Maharjan herself, two teachers and twenty students benefitted from the session. Green technology entrepreneur and innovator Sanu Kaji Shrestha and his team of experts facilitated the session. We were delighted to know that the kind organizers had prepared the snacks that was served to us in green energy instead of fossil fuel. By the end of the session, participants gained theoretical and hands on skill and knowledge under the following technologies: Solar cooking• Solar cooker building• Solar water pasteurizing• Solar drying• Fuel efficient stoves• Heat retaining• Briquette making• Biochar making• Waste management• Soilless gardening. The organizers also gifted a souvenir to each of the participant, which was made from the waste.

Students hear from FoST founder Sanu Kaji Shrestha about the many aspects of sustainable cooking - Photo credit: FoST

A parabolic solar cooker is demonstrated to the students - Photo credit: FoST

Students discuss the sustainability concepts - Photo credit: FoST

• November 2021: Solar lunches prepared - FoST continues to provide meals and other services to local rural communities in Nepal. This latest occasion took place at the Tapasthali home for elderly mothers.

Residents of the Tapasthali old age home receive solar prepared lunch. Photo credit: FoST

FoST founders demonstrate the solar cooking to residents. Photo credit: FoST

• January 2020: 

Orientation and live-demonstration of the green energy technologies organized for Seven Women groups from Australia in January 2020.

• August 2019: 

A group photo of the students, teachers and parents in Akshar Foundation after a training by FoST

FoST demonstrates their green technology approaches to touring Australian students in 2017. Photo credit: FoST

• January 2018: FoST demonstrated the green technologies they use in helping to address the humanitarian and environmental concerns facing the local, primarily rural, population in Nepal to touring Australian students in 2017.
• January 2018: FoST successfully completed two days of exhibitions (3rd and 4th Dec.) on green energy technologies at Nepal's biggest consumer center, Kalimati Vegetable Market in Kathmandu. Their two objectives were to convert energy sources available in the market complex into fuel cakes and tap solar energy for cooking food items and water boiling. They supplied boiled water to the doctors in the free health camp, and tea and snacks to the fifty people involved in the camp, which was jointly organized by the Lions and Leo Clubs, Women Empowerment Group, and Cooperatives.

FoST demonstrates biomass briquette construction and the varied use for solar cookers. Photo credit: FoST

FoST at the Kalimati Vegetable Market in Kathmandu Photo credit: FoST

• November 2017: A FoST demonstration of solar and sustainable technologies took place on 16 October 2017 for the students and teachers of the Kathmandu International Study Center, Dhobighat, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Exploring the parabolic solar cooker - Photo credit: FoST

Students and teachers at FoST - Photo credit: FoST

Students feel the heat of the solar cooker - Photo credit: FoST

Locally produced solar box cookers in FOST introductory project for the Lalitpur district. Photo credit: FOST

• January 2017: Projects for the Lalitpur district - The Foundation for Sustainable Technologies, working with the Solar Cookers International 4th Grant Program, have begun programs in the Devichour VDC and Panauti communities. Previously dependent on biogas and fuelwood. Both are rural villages. The projects are using both Chinese-made parabolic solar cookers and locally produced solar box cookers.

FoST representatives demonstrated parabolic solar cookers at the Tek Chok Ling Nunnery School in Baudha, Nepal. Photo credit: FoST

• January 2017: Parabolic solar cookers demonstrated in Baudha - FoST founder Sanu Kaji Shrestha, with assistance from Kriti, demonstrated and provided parabolic solar cookers to the Tek Chok Ling Nunnery School in Baudha, Nepal. They boiled twelve liters of water and 12kg(26.4lbs) of potatoes in four hours for appreciative nuns. They project the nunnery can expect to save 30-40% of their gas consumption with continued consistent use of the solar cookers.

Photo: S. Kaji, Director of FoST, Nepal. 2015

• June 2015: Nepalese students discovered ways to cook food and pasteurize water with free solar energy after the earthquake in a demonstration put on by Foundation for Sustainable Technologies with funding from Solar Cookers International.

• February 2010: FoST founder Sanu Kaji Shrestha attended the Mediterranean Conference on Sustainable Engineering and met with Andreas Fasoulides in Cyprus and discussed on the possible collaboration. Sanu sold a solar CooKit to the participant from Palestine. He also received great interest briquette presses (smallest press just 5 kgs) and briquette stove from the participants from Tufts University. It was a very successful event.

Briquette press being demonstrated at Cyprus conference in 2010

Sanu Kaji Shrestha and FoST promote several types of solar cookers, as well as fuel-*March 2010: Alternative fuel sources were discussed and demonstrated at the recent conference held in Cyprus. Included was a demonstration in the making of a Biomass briquette. An energy efficient and cost-effective fuel source. efficient stoves that burn special briquettes made from agricultural and industrial waste.

• March 2008: The BBC’s annual World Challenge competition honors individuals and organizations that make a difference through enterprise and innovation at a grassroots level. The top 12 projects were promoted on the television program BBC World and in Newsweek magazine, followed by a public voting period. Solar cooker promoter Sanu Kaji reports that his organization, Foundation for Sustainable Technologies (FoST), was a top three finalist, winning $10,000 for its Cooking Without Gas project. The project was selected over nearly 1,000 others. Kaji Shrestha is grateful for the votes and support from the solar cooking community. In a letter to Solar Cookers International, he wrote, “Part of the credit goes to you and your solar cooking network for lobbying, and untiring support in our efforts.” Congratulations to Kaji Shrestha and FoST for this well-deserved honor!

• December 2007: FoST of Nepal is one of the 3 finalists in the World Challenge 2007! As runner up FoST has won $10.000 in the global competition organized by BBC World, Shell and Newsweek.
• October 2007: FoST is among the 12 finalists for the World Challenge 2007. This global competition was set up three years ago by the BBC World, Newsweek and Shell to recognize the innovators of this world. The jury of the World Challenge has chosen FoST as one of the dozen finalists to be filmed for the 2007 series. The popular programmes will be shown on BBC World and featured in Newsweek from October 2007. Over 940 nominations were received which makes reaching the final 12 a great achievement for FoST. The 15 minute documentary film on FoST activities will be released on the BBC World on Saturday 3rd November 2007 and will be repeated as follows: November 3, 2007 at 0930 GMT; November 4, 2007; (not broadcast America or the Middle East) at 0330 GMT, 1330 GMT, and 1830 GMT; November 6, 2007 at 1830 GMT. To vote please go to: http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/cooking.php (listed under Cooking Without Gas).

• April 2007: The government of Nepal has adopted a rural energy policy aimed at reducing rural poverty and protecting the environment. The government hopes to encourage local organizations, nongovernmental organizations and cooperatives to develop a variety of new energy sources such as micro hydro, wind and solar. According to FoST director Sanu Kaji Shrestha, the government has recently increased its subsidy for some parabolic-type solar cookers to 4000 rupees per unit, while there also is a 50% subsidy on some solar box cookers. However, he says it is difficult to fulfill the government’s criteria for receiving subsidies. He estimates there are about 2500 solar cookers distributed in rural communities so far.

Reports

• January 2017: Possibilities and Challenges of Solar can Cook Nepali Food (slides) - Sanu Kaji Shrestha and Kriti Shrestha
• January 2013: Solar Cooking with Integrated Systems

Audio and video

• October 2020:

• May 2018: 

FoST Lapu EN-0

FoST demonstrates production of briquettes in Lapu Village in Nepal.

• January 2017:

• FoST YouTube channel

• October 2013:

External links

• April 2010: Fuel Briquettes Put Energy in the Peoples’ Hands - Engineering for Change
• July 2006: An audio interview with Sanu Kaji Shrestha
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fost003 and http://www.facebook.com/sanu.k.shrestha

Contact

Founder and Chairperson, Mr. Sanu Kaji Shrestha
G.P.O. Box 10776
Galiopakha, Thamel
Kathmandu
Nepal

Office: +977 1-4361574
Fx: +977 1-4412997

Email: fost@ntc.net.np
Web: http://www.fostnepal.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fost003 and http://www.facebook.com/sanu.k.shrestha