Korea Midland Power Co., a state-run power supplier, and Friends, an international non-profit organization, conducted charitable events for the people of Waingapu, the largest town on Sumba island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

KOMIPO CEO Choi Pyeong-rak and Friends group chairman Kim Eun-ho donated 440 semi-permanent solar rechargeable LED lanterns and provided volunteer medical services through the week of July 20-27.

Sumba island is an underdeveloped region with only 5-15 percent of its electricity needs readily available. The LED lanterns KOMIPO provided takes five hours to fully charge and can stay lit for more than eight hours. According to the United Nations Development Program the lanterns increase household income by 30 percent as a result of nighttime economic activity, decrease eye infections or respiratory illnesses as a result of fewer indoor fires and provide children with after-hours learning opportunities.

In addition, teams of medical volunteers, such as physicians and dentists, treated and educated the community.

“I hope the future of Indonesian children become as bright as these lanterns,” said participant Chu Eun-jin from KOMIPO. “We will continue to try to do various volunteer work apart from the construction of power plants.”


By Kim Joo-hyun
(jhk@heraldcorp.com)