“Changemakers” is our series exploring how young people, connected and globally aware, are working to change the world. If you know a young person (think “Millennial” or “Gen Y”) committed to change, global health and the fight against poverty, please send the person’s name, short bio and contact info to Jake Ellison at jellison@kplu.org.
By Lisa Stiffler, special correspondent
Erin Larsen Cooper
Erin Larsen-Cooper, 29, is a program associate with VillageReach, and a graduate of the University of Washington and Western Washington University.
Take vaccinations.
For the life-saving treatments to work, there needs to be adequate refrigeration during storage and delivery. So when Seattle-based VillageReach teamed up with Mozambique’s Ministry of Health to expand access to vaccines in the country, the non-profit organization realized it needed to help improve refrigeration as well.
But instead of simply handing out the propane needed to power the refrigerators used to chill the vaccines, Seattle-based VillageReach first supported the creation of a business called VidaGas. The idea was to create a self-sustaining business that supported the public health program rather than seek funding from NGOs or the strapped local government agencies. Continue reading
