All Change Agent
Inshah Malik is trying to rebuild Kashmir with a different weapon – her penYoung writer Inshah Malik tells the stories of Kashmiri women and the often brutal effects on them from decades of conflict.
Community radio cuts disaster risk in flood-prone BangladeshRadio stations that broadcast in local dialects along Bangladesh’s coast warn residents about storms and help farmers cope with erratic weather.
Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village helps young Rwandans healA visit from Rwandan students gives their American peers a chance to learn about the Rwandan genocide and the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, which cares for orphaned and other affected youths.
Samaritan's Purse helps feed those in need worldwideIn Bolivia and other hungry countries around the world Samaritan's Purse works to support families hurt by natural disaster, war, disease, and famine.
Mangroves reduce disaster risk, boost incomes in VietnamPlanting mangrove forests on Vietnam's coasts creates living storm barriers as well as rich new fishing grounds.
Diners go 'Halfsies' to fight hunger and obesity'Halfsies' plan at restaurants would serve half of a normal portion to diners with the remaining value of the dish used to aid the hungry.
New ideas reduce waste and spoilage after the harvestA new kind of bag for cowpeas in western Africa cuts weevil infestations and boosts incomes and productivity. Research on how to better grow crops is now being joined by research on how to reduce waste and spoilage after harvest.
Green roofs in Nairobi save energy, waterThese gardens in the sky sometimes boast trees, as well as grass and other plants, which cool the building while sucking up carbon-dioxide pollution.
Solar-powered phones recharge Kenya's conversationsAn inexpensive solar cell phone made of recycled materials opens new opportunities for people in rural Kenya.
Journalist Kevin Fagan looked for solutions to homelessnessHis newspaper series on the homeless in San Francisco emphasized solutions – what really works and what doesn't. The result: constructive changes.
World Bank unit, MasterCard Foundation boost crucial small loans in AfricaThey'll spend $37.4 million over five years to provide microfinancing, which helps people lift themselves out of poverty by starting or expanding small businesses, sending children to school, or improving farms.
A quirky, tiny grass-roots effort backs only 'Awesome’ projectsThe Awesome Foundation is a loose collection of some three-dozen local groups usually made up of 10 volunteers each, who offer $100 a month toward a simple, no-strings-attached grant, or Awesome Fellowship.
Public-private teamwork helps save Connecticut's threatened alewivesThe once-abundant fish have played a big role in Connecticut's development. But now they need help to reach their freshwater spawning grounds.
Farmers' markets go onlineOnline ordering systems, like Arganica Farm Club in the mid-Atlantic, Green Bean Delivery in the Midwest, and SPUD in the Northwest, deliver fresh local produce to consumers.
Ethikus offers a Groupon-like service to find ethical, sustainable businessesNew York City startup Ethikus provides vouchers for small businesses whose practices embody principles of sustainability.
African farmers grow trees as a natural crop fertilizerIn Africa, planting trees along with corn in soil that is low in nitrogen can substantially increase corn production without expensive fertilizers. In a decade, the number of small farmers using Fertilizer Tree Systems has ballooned from a few hundred to more than 250,000.
Mama Hope uses humor to change the West's view of AfricaNonprofit Mama Hope has released three videos that employ humor to create new perceptions of Africa and to show that it is full of capable people with the potential to support themselves. The aim is to create a new conversation about the continent and humanize the people who live there.
A Kenyan woman stands up against a massive dam projectIkal Angelei is helping lead a campaign to stop construction of the Gibe III dam in Ethiopia that threatens the water supply and way of life of tens of thousands of indigenous people.
Looking for a few good boomers to help othersRetiring baby boomers are proving to be valuable volunteers. 'A part of paying for our spot on earth is to help those who need help,' says one.
Transition Towns moves communities beyond sustainability to resiliencyThe 320 Transition Town initiatives in 14 countries focus on urban agriculture, crowdfunding, and other social enterprises, using a 12-step model to organize a community toward a sustainable, resilient future.
