Polarstern Bewegt e.V.

About us

Polarstern Bewegt e.V. was founded in Munich in 2011.
The aim of the association is to help people in developing countries to build their own microbiogas plants. The help offered is geared to the individual needs of the people concerned, with the aim of improving their quality of life.

The goal of Polarstern Bewegt e.V. is to work on good projects together with people and organizations that we know personally. In Cambodia that is Lam Saoleng, the program coordinator of the National Biodigester Program (NBP). Since the end of 2005, she has been committed to the construction of microbiogas plants, comprehensive quality standards and a quality control system in Cambodia.

The program is carried out jointly by the Cambodia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV). It is part of the Asia Biogas Program (ABP), which is jointly implemented by the Dutch government and the SNV.

Biogas plants in Kampong Cham province in Cambodia:
Most households in Kampong Cham depend on firewood and petroleum. Many of the women and children get eye and respiratory diseases from the constant, acrid smoke in their huts. Many households lack sanitary facilities. Families who keep animals simply tip out their excrement anywhere. The consequences: dirt, smell, harmful emissions, as well as diseases resulting from air pollution and lack of hygiene.

Polarstern Bewegt e.V. promotes the construction of biogas plants for families in developing countries through financial aid. A toilet, gas lamps and a gas stove are connected to the biogas plant. Without complicated technology, they are simple, robust and low maintenance, but very efficient.
It is not a solution to provide the families with ready-made plants. So Polarstern Bewegt e.V. only provides the start-up financing. The rest is provided by the families themselves. The fact that the families do not receive ready-made solutions, but have to make a financial contribution to their biogas plant via microcredit and are also trained in its maintenance, means that they more closely identify with the project.

Simon Stadler is the Vice President of Polarstern Bewegt e.V.

On request we can offer other net participants advice, give a presentation, and provide up-to-date information and contacts in the field of our work.