1. Citizenship Stage 2
By Group 8
Team Members: Jayden Lew, Hansel Yeo, Reuben
Wong and Suntharam.
2. What is Poverty?
According to the dictionary, Poverty is about
not having enough money to meet basic needs
including food, clothing and shelter.
However, through this citizenship module, we
came to realise that poverty is much more than not
being financially well-equipped. Poverty is hunger.
Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and
not being able to see the doctor etc.
3. The Chosen One aka Our
Entrepreneur
Name: Jason Aramburu
Place of birth: South Texas
Passion: Plant Science
Who is he?: Founder of the
company re:char
Residency: Kenya with his wife
4. What Jason Aramburu did
Smallholder farmers need new, affordable fertilizer technologies that
can allow them to grow higher-value and more nutritious vegetable
crops. Jason is developing a solution that allows farmers to produce
fertilizer locally, at low or zero cost. This answer is also carbon-negative.
What were these
solutions?
1. Founded re:char which aims to provide smallholder farmers in East Africa with an
affordable kiln to produce biochar from their agricultural waste.
2. Developed and launched the SoillQ, a mobile-enabled device that tests soil moisture
and fertility
5. What Problems did Jason encounter?
1. This system only works out financially with a substantial petroleum subsidy. When petroleum
subsides cease, the cost of food will be driven up.
2. The founder of the first company he worked for, Innozone pulled the plug as he realised other
competitors were much further along. This resulted in Jason losing his first job.
How did he overcome these problems?
1. He created re:char to help small farmers become the backbone of the global food supply.
2. The founder encouraged Jason to launch re:char and Jason listened to his advice. Through
thick and thin, Jason persisted and managed to set up his own company at a very young age.
6. What valuable lessons did we learn from Jason?
?
1. We learnt that every big achievement starts with a passion. For example, in Jason’s case, it
all started with his passion for plant science which then evolved into using biochar to help small-
holder farmers in East Africa to grow more crops.
2. We learnt that poverty takes on many forms. To many people, the word “Poverty” would mean
not financially well-equipped. However, through this project, we learnt that poverty can be a lack
of basic necessities such as shelter, not having sufficient food or even unable to go to school. In
this case, we found out that Poverty was the lack of resources to grow proper crops.
3. We also take away a very valuable lesson which is to never give up on your goals. Despite losing
his first job, Jason persisted and by receiving help from the founder of his previous company, he
was able to set up his own company: re:char, and became an entrepreneur at a very young age.
This teaches us to always have the motivation to strive forward despite setbacks or failures.
