All People Making a Difference
- She helps visitors enjoy the treasures of Prague Castle
Hana Hrdinová is committed to the preservation and maintenance of Prague Castle, which is both a space of immense historical and cultural significance and a functioning government complex.
- In Illinois, some food pantry users are taught to grow own vegetables
Lee Jennings, a township supervisor, thought the well-mowed grass outside his office in Crystal Lake, Ill., could be put to better use.
- Difference MakerShe takes in children in Thailand, sometimes because others won’t
Sunanta ‘Nong’ Kaewmuangpech opened a children's shelter with no sponsors or resources whatsoever. Here’s how she did it.
- A critic of schools gets a new view as a tutor in Cleveland
Larry Jemison was a self-described complainer about poor schools. But after he retired, he saw a chance to actually do something. Now, three days a week, he helps children learn to read.
- One nonprofit's way of responding to natural disasters – more than 60 of them
All Hands Volunteers has enabled more than 35,000 people to bring aid to places ranging from post-Sandy Brooklyn to Ofunato, Japan, after the 2011 tsunami.
- In drought-hit India, some villages restore century-old irrigation canals
Residents see the traditional system as a prime example of how communities can work together to overcome the challenges of their environment. But how widely it could be used remains a question.
- At this library, story time doesn’t end because a parent is in prison
TeleStory, a program run by the Brooklyn Public Library, makes it possible for the incarcerated to read to their children. It is one of 14 winners of the Knight News Challenge on Libraries.
- Difference MakerShe’s been instrumental in CVS taking a stand against tobacco
Eileen Howard Boone is both a mother of six and an executive at CVS Health. Her work is indicative of how many businesses are putting more emphasis on philanthropy.
- In Mass., Habitat for Humanity affiliate takes on its first 'veterans build'
Veterans builds have become a popular facet of Habitat for Humanity nationwide, supporting veterans by providing housing and employment opportunities for those who have served.
- For kids with loss or addiction in their families, these camps offer comfort
Former major league pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife started a foundation that puts on free, three-day camps for children across the country, helping 4,000 kids last year alone.
- With men gone, women shake up farming in rural Nepal
As Nepali men migrate to find work, women are taking over in the fields – earning them more money and respect.
- Sun-powered phone charger helps migrants in Greece
A team of students from Edinburgh University designed the charging station, keeping in mind that Greece gets plenty of sun.
- Difference MakerThis tribesman planted a forest in India that’s bigger than Central Park
Jadav ‘Molai’ Payeng began planting seedlings in 1979, and the forest has grown so big that it has sheltered tigers and elephants.
- Global standard to measure food waste aims to put more on plates
Companies and countries often lack details about the food that disappears from the supply chain. The new standard is the first set of international definitions and reporting requirements for the problem.
- At senior living facilities, 'students in residence' programs catch on
Senior living centers are providing college students housing for free or reduced rates in exchange for them hanging out with the residents. One program just launched in Iowa.
- In one Cincinnati neighborhood, a start-up gives local entrepreneurs a chance
When neighborhoods develop, longtime residents are often left out of the boom. MORTAR is designed to provide the information and resources that residents need to start businesses.
- Amid Venezuela food shortages, tropical fruits provide lifeline
With many people saying they cannot afford three meals a day, they're turning to Venezuela's lush mango, coconut, and papaya trees.
- Difference MakerViolence plunged after he brought the arts to a Tijuana neighborhood
Raúl Cárdenas Osuna has dedicated his life to creating social change through community-driven art initiatives. His outlook helped transform Camino Verde into a neighborhood of hope and promise.
- With exhibit, migrants in Europe hope their experiences are better understood
'I felt this was the way I could help,' says British art curator Sue McAlpine, whose exhibition features discarded life jackets used by refugees who arrived in Greece, as well as paintings and photos by migrants in Calais.
- Are 'income share agreements' a good way to pay for college?
Under these plans, students agree to pay a percentage of their future income to a private company or lender in exchange for additional money to cover college expenses. For some, the agreements might make sense.