All People Making a Difference
- Afghan activist wins award for work on job creation, women's participation
Seema Ghani fled Afghanistan with her family in the 1990s during the country's civil war. She decided to return in 2002 to help rebuild her country. Last month, she earned the Bond Outstanding Individual Award.
- One way to keep businesses (and small towns) alive when their owners retire
In Kansas, a matchmaking service that’s based at a university is helping transition small businesses to new hands. Could it be a model for the rest of rural America?
- Difference MakerShe’s leading efforts to restore an iconic castle in Transylvania
Tímea Berki first visited Bánffy Castle in 2005 and has since focused on saving the complex. Resources are often scarce for such projects in the region.
- She did something to help make her state healthier
West Virginia ranks as one of the states with the least-healthy people. Kate Long and the network she co-directs, Try This West Virginia, highlight affordable, practical projects that help address this challenge.
- Former Burundi street child helps heal civil war divisions
Dieudonne Nahimana founded a charity trying to break the cycle of retribution among children orphaned by Burundi's civil war. To foster reconciliation, the charity also works with children whose parents were the killers.
- A teen and her dog make weekly visits to assisted living home, earning award
Alex Burnham started the visits as part of a project to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award. But even after earning the award, the weekly visits have continued, and she's now the recipient of a Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
- An up-and-coming pianist shares his love of music with children
Jan Lisiecki, age 22, has already performed at Carnegie Hall and recorded several albums. He’s also made humanitarian work a priority, spending time with young Syrian refugees and other children.
- Difference MakerShe found a way to make plastic waste useful
Medha Tadpatrikar helped design a machine in Pune, India, that heats up plastic to convert it to fuel. The process is eco-friendly in more ways than one.
- This ‘superhero’ shows kids how to solve problems with positivity and kindness
Nicholas Domingo was the target of bullies at school. Drawing on his experiences as an adult, he created an alter ego, Captain Encouragement, and he’s crafted a message that he hopes to take across the US.
- College athletes mentor kids at domestic violence shelter
The athletes – football players at St. John's University in Minnesota – offer the children a different example for how men behave. The kids look forward to the athletes' visits – as do the players themselves.
- Yazidi 'superhero' earns award for helping survivors of ISIS atrocities
The Bond Humanitarian Award has been given to aid worker Bassam Hawas Quru, who is helping people displaced by violence in northern Iraq.
- Difference MakerResponsible fatherhood: He’s been a key voice in the national conversation
Joseph Jones knows firsthand what it feels like as a kid to not have a father around. So he’s been helping other men be good parents for decades now.
- Wiser from his past, a former gang member in Nicaragua helps at-risk kids
Jairo Blanchard has organized a soccer league and other activities through his nonprofit, Recreación Sana. An estimated 800 children in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, take part.
- How Galápagos giant tortoises have made a comeback
As many as 300,000 giant tortoises once roamed the Galápagos Islands, but that number went down by about 90 percent. Here's a rundown of innovative conservation strategies that are enabling the restoration of tortoise populations.
- Memories of Balkans war compel many to help current refugees
Many Croatians have rallied around the refugees from war-torn countries including Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. 'We went through this 25 years ago,' says a worker at a migrant center.
- How blockchain can be a force for good in the developing world
Blockchain is a digital architecture most commonly known as the technology behind bitcoin, the virtual currency. A number of its applications have particular relevance to the developing world.
- Difference MakerThis Hungarian taps the potential of disabled people
Géza Dely didn’t launch a foundation to help disabled people. He wanted to provide a setting for them to use their abilities to help others and give something to the world.
- After epiphany in US, woman forges peace among Indian and Pakistani youths
Aliya Harir was brought up in Pakistan to think of India as the enemy. So when she met Indians while studying in the US, she was surprised to gain a new perspective. She now works on peacebuilding initiatives.
- Once homeless and hungry, this high-schooler is now a 'Youth of the Year'
Zoe Frauen, aware that others in her community faced similar challenges, set out to fight hunger and homelessness. The Boys & Girls Clubs has been a key resource for her.
- Five of the best-designed products of all time
Design professors explain how products ranging from the paper clip to Microsoft HoloLens have solved problems and transformed practices.