All People Making a Difference
Obermayer Awards overcome silence with stories of German-Jewish historyArthur Obermayer's German Jewish History Awards continue to bring forgotten lives to light, personalizing the past to heal communities today.
New technologies preserve historic monuments with 3D imagesIslamic State and others have tried to wipe out cultures by destroying monuments and other works of art. But new tools are giving scholars ways to halt the loss of cultural artifacts.
Women nurture saplings and earn income while reforesting PakistanThe 'Billion Tree Tsunami' plans to plant 1 billion trees in degraded forest areas and on private land in Pakistan to provide an ecological and economic boost.
New $130 million project to cut food waste from field to tableIn parts of Africa up to half of some crops are lost due to inefficient harvesting, storage, processing, and time to market. A new initiative aims to cut food waste and loss in half by 2030.
Difference MakerMaung Nyeu is helping his people put their language and stories on recordAs a child in Bangladesh he was punished for speaking his local Marma language. Now the Harvard grad student is publishing books in Marma, one story at a time.
Heifer Farm teaches sustainable ways to end hungerThe Heifer International approach has been used to improve living standards in scores of countries for decades. At the farm visitors get a hands-on idea of how it's done.
SkyTruth spots environmental problems from spaceNonprofit groups are using satellite images to uncover environmental problems. SkyTruth has exposed the extent of the BP oil spill, revealed mining damage, and tracked illegal fishing worldwide.
Former enemies share samba in Colombia's 'Dancing with the Stars'A policeman once held hostage by FARC rebels and an ex-FARC rebel soldier team up in a TV dance competition. 'If we can do it, so can others.'
Difference MakerWhen Alma Tucker learned of cross-border sex trafficking, she had to actThose trying to cross the border from Mexico to the US risk being abused or trafficked. Alma Tucker has created a safe home for girls caught in this trade.
Germany Is building an Autobahn for bikesCyclists on the bicycle superhighway won't have to worry about being struck by motor vehicles.
Waterless toilet uses nanotechnology to treat waste, banish odorsThe innovative project is being developing as part of a global 'Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.' Some 2.4 billion people live without adequate sanitary facilities.
A school for child brides delays marriage and provides educationThe Veerni Institute is a boarding school in India that provides health care, daily meals, uniforms, books, and computer training.
Difference MakerJay and Nii Quartey found music, then their calling 鈥� helping street childrenJayNii Streetwise Foundation is an orphanage, primary school, and arts center that thrives in a struggling neighborhood of Accra, Ghana鈥檚 capital city.
To save a rare forest, farmers try a new crop 鈥� butterfliesPeople living in Zanzibar's Jozani forest are being trained to raise butterflies as a way to prevent deforestation by giving people a financial stake in keeping the forest intact.
Iconic New York City hotels promise to go greenThe Waldorf Astoria, The Peninsula New York, and The Pierre are among 16 posh hotels pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2025.
A World War II aircraft carrier's new mission: promote science educationNew York's Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum preserves history while inspiring young Americans to become bold, innovative, and daring explorers themselves.
Forget 'Fairtrade' 鈥� just give cash to the poorest, philosopher saysWill MacAskill promotes 'effective altruism,' which advises people to give large chunks of their income to effective charities while downplaying 'Fairtrade' products.
Salvation Army's top bell ringer charms donors with voiceHarold Pierce is聽among the top fundraisers for the regional聽Salvation聽Army聽Red Kettle Christmas campaign聽with a voice of an angel.
Difference MakerRoman Sklotskiy spreads a new idea in Russia: Be a 'big brother' or 'big sister'Volunteering to mentor youths wasn't a familiar concept. So Mr. Sklotskiy became director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Russia to promote it.
A small New England college goes 100 percent solarHampshire College in Amherst, Mass., will soon be home to a 'living building' and become the only residential college generating 100 percent of its electricity from solar panels.
