Kopernik: Practical Solutions for Communities Facing Poverty

Kopernik is an international nonprofit organization that works to reduce poverty by helping underserved communities access practical technologies, knowledge, and resources. Its activities bring together research, experimentation, education, and partnerships to address everyday challenges in remote and disadvantaged areas.

The organization collaborates with local communities, specialists, donors, and businesses to develop solutions for needs such as clean drinking water, reliable energy, sustainable agriculture, and better economic opportunities.

About Kopernik

Founded in 2010, Kopernik is headquartered in Ubud, Indonesia. Its founders, Toshi Nakamura and Ewa Wojkowska, previously worked for the United Nations, where they gained experience in international development and the challenges facing marginalized communities.

Their work in countries including Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Sierra Leone exposed them to the barriers that prevent people from meeting basic needs. They saw how limited access to appropriate technology, practical knowledge, and essential resources could reinforce poverty.

Kopernik was established to help close these gaps. Rather than treating technology as an end in itself, the organization focuses on how useful tools and tested approaches can improve people’s daily lives.

The organization takes its name from Nicolaus Copernicus, the Renaissance scholar associated with a major shift in scientific understanding. The name reflects the founders’ interest in experimentation, new ideas, and progress through evidence.

What Kopernik Does

Kopernik identifies challenges affecting underserved communities and explores practical ways to address them. Its projects combine community participation with technical expertise and support from partner organizations.

Areas of work described in its programs include:

• Drinking-water treatment and filtration.
• Solar energy and other accessible energy solutions.
• Alternative fuels.
• Water-efficient irrigation.
• Improved preservation of fish and other food products.
• Agricultural processing and storage.
• Reusable menstrual products and other hygiene solutions.

Each initiative aims to connect a clearly defined problem with a solution that can be tested and evaluated. Donors and partners help provide the funding, equipment, and expertise needed to put these ideas into practice.

Alongside its development programs, Kopernik has supported emergency relief efforts. Since 2017, its responses have included assistance to communities affected by the Mount Agung eruption, earthquakes in Lombok and Central Sulawesi, and the Sunda Strait tsunami. Depending on the emergency, support has included food, protective masks, and other essential supplies.

Mission and Values

Kopernik’s mission focuses on reducing poverty among “last-mile” communities—people whose location or circumstances make essential services, technologies, and economic opportunities difficult to access.

Its approach emphasizes several core values:

• Professionalism and accountability.
• Experimentation and continuous learning.
• Collaboration and teamwork.
• Efficient use of money, time, and resources.

The organization seeks people with different technical, scientific, and professional backgrounds. It values curiosity, practical thinking, and a willingness to test unfamiliar ideas.

This approach places importance on taking action while learning from results. When communities lack essentials such as food or safe drinking water, the goal is to develop workable responses without unnecessary administrative delays.

How Kopernik Approaches Development

Kopernik’s work connects problem identification, testing, analysis, and the wider use of effective solutions.

Understanding Community Needs

Projects begin with an examination of the difficulties people face in their daily lives. Working with communities helps the organization identify priorities and understand the circumstances in which a proposed solution must function.

Kopernik also seeks funding and partnerships to support project development and implementation.

Testing Ideas

Experimentation helps determine whether a technology or approach can deliver useful results. Together with partners and specialists, Kopernik tests possible solutions before considering broader implementation.

This process creates opportunities to identify limitations, adjust designs, and assess whether an idea suits local needs.

Collecting and Analyzing Evidence

Data collection supports decisions about project design and development. The organization considers results from previous initiatives, lessons from other development programs, and the conditions of the markets in which it operates.

Technical performance is only one consideration. A solution must also be practical for the people expected to use it.

Expanding Access to Useful Technologies

Kopernik’s activities cover six broad areas:

1. Agriculture and fisheries.
2. Water access and treatment.
3. Energy and the environment.
4. Health.
5. Education.
6. Women’s economic empowerment.

Across these areas, the organization aims to make useful technologies and knowledge more accessible to communities that conventional distribution systems may not reach.

Leadership and Teamwork

Kopernik brings together people with experience in international development, research, project management, and other professional fields. Defined responsibilities support day-to-day operations, while collaboration helps the team respond to complex challenges.

Toshi Nakamura

Toshi Nakamura co-founded Kopernik and serves as its chief executive officer. His earlier work with the United Nations helped shape his interest in marginalized communities and practical approaches to development.

His professional experience includes management, data analysis, disaster preparedness, and emergency response across several international settings.

Ewa Wojkowska

Ewa Wojkowska is Kopernik’s co-founder and chief operating officer. Her background includes work with the United Nations on issues affecting underserved communities, including access to justice and empowerment.

Her experience in international development supports the organization’s operations, partnerships, and efforts to turn ideas into practical programs.

Organizational Structure

Kopernik’s activities are supported by several legal entities with different responsibilities.

Kopernik Solutions

Registered in New York, Kopernik Solutions supports fundraising and the organization’s broader activities. Its work includes projects outside Indonesia.

Yayasan Kopernik

Yayasan Kopernik is the organization’s Indonesian foundation. Its responsibilities include experimentation, poverty-reduction initiatives, and engagement with funding partners.

PT Kopernik

PT Kopernik is an Indonesian company that provides consulting services. Its work supports businesses and organizations seeking insight into technologies, markets, and development opportunities.

Kopernik Japan

Kopernik Japan supports fundraising and relationships with Japanese companies and other partners.

Together, these entities help the organization secure resources, maintain partnerships, and deliver different types of work.

Examples of Kopernik Projects

Kopernik’s programs illustrate how its approach can be applied to public health, women’s economic participation, and agricultural development.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kopernik worked with SIAP SIAGA on an emergency response initiative in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara.

The project supported healthcare workers and communities through the provision of personal protective equipment and other essential assistance. It also included food support for people whose livelihoods had been disrupted.

This initiative addressed immediate needs while drawing on the organization’s experience in coordinating resources and working with local partners.

Supporting Women’s Empowerment Organizations

Kopernik has worked on programs designed to strengthen women’s empowerment organizations and support their long-term sustainability.

Activities have included workshops, discussions, and planning sessions focused on organizational development, financial challenges, and economic opportunities.

Technology also plays a role in this work. Access to practical products, including solar-powered devices and alternative energy solutions, can help women address household needs while creating opportunities to earn income through distribution and sales.

The broader aim is to support women not only as technology users, but also as participants in local economic development.

Improving Cacao Farming and Exploring Sago Potential in Papua

Another initiative focuses on improving agricultural production and processing in Papua, particularly in relation to cacao and sago.

Small-scale producers can face obstacles such as limited equipment, inconsistent processing methods, pests, and difficult growing conditions. These problems can affect product quality and reduce the income farmers receive.

Kopernik’s approach has included:

• Training farmers in agricultural and post-harvest practices.
• Helping experienced farmers share their knowledge with others.
• Introducing improved drying equipment.
• Providing fermentation containers and other processing tools.

The project, which began in 2018, aims to help producers improve quality and make better use of available agricultural resources.

Partnerships and Funding

Partnerships play an important role in Kopernik’s work. Businesses, foundations, community groups, and other organizations can contribute funding, technology, products, or specialist knowledge.

Organizations listed among its collaborators have included 1000 Days Fund, Ahimsa Brands, Akarumput, and others.

These relationships help connect community needs with resources that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. Financial contributions from individuals and institutions also support project delivery and organizational operations.

Donations and Public Participation

Individuals can support Kopernik through the donation options available on its official website. Contributions help fund development initiatives and other areas of the organization’s work.

Supporters can review project information to understand the needs being addressed and the activities proposed. Where available, recurring donations provide a way to contribute over a longer period.

Donation methods, minimum amounts, and registration requirements should be checked on the donation page before making a payment.

Contact Information

The contact details provided for Kopernik include:

Indonesia Office

Jalan Raya Mas, Mas, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 9082486

United States Mailing Address

228 Park Avenue, Suite #73293
New York, NY 10003, USA
Telephone: +1 347-587-8687

Online Contact

Website: kopernik.info
Email: [email protected]

The organization can also be contacted through its website and social media channels. Before sending correspondence or visiting an office, check its official contact page for the latest details.