All People Making a Difference
Nonprofit's gift of bikes helps Cambodian girls get to school safelyThe number of girls making it to school is increasing because of Lotus Pedals, a program that last year gave 500 bicycles to young Cambodian girls.
Difference MakerSergei Abramov's goal: an educational blog that doesn't bore his fellow Russian teensStudents from all over Russia visit the 16-year-old's site, The Blog of a School Wise Guy, to learn about math, physics, literature, new scientific breakthroughs, or just curious facts.
Water crisis runs much deeper than digging a wellMaintaining water systems and involving the local citizens are keys to providing effective help, says Ned Breslin, CEO of Water for People
What six piles of pennies can mean in Rwanda: why I KivaThe author of 'The International Bank of Bob' lays out the groundwork for establishing 'The International Bank of You.'
A new bank for rural poor: the local post officeProviding banking services at post offices around the world could better reach the rural poor, who often live far from any bank.
Green housing: In Buffalo, it's not just for rich peopleCan cities build sustainable housing that's affordable, too? Buffalo, N.Y., did and created a job-training pipeline in the process. Here's what can happen when a neighborhood takes the lead.
Updated water wheels power India's rural mountain economyWooden water wheels have long captured energy from mountain streams. New versions work even better, helping provide a local, sustainable source of energy to Indian villages high in the Himalayas.
Difference MakerKimberly Ritter stands up to child sex trafficking in US hotelsKimberly Ritter discovered that some US hotels harbor a horrifying secret 鈥� child sex trafficking. Now she and her employer are urging the hospitality industry to confront the problem.
An oasis of community and support for Latina momsIn California, many Latina mothers find themselves cut off by domestic responsibilities and language barriers. But with the help of trusted mentors, they鈥檙e learning new skills and strengthening their support networks.
Sierra Leone combats the outrage of child soldieringThe Child Soldier Initiative will train the army and police in how to engage with children in combat situations, as well as educate youths about the problem.
Playworks coaches teach games, prevent bullying at recessThe nonprofit group Playworks provides 360 schools in low-income neighborhoods fun, organized activities for children during recess, allowing them to return to class refreshed and ready to learn.
Bosnian woman helped make rape a war crimeNusreta Sivac's efforts to gather testimony from women across Bosnia helped win convictions in court and categorized rape as a war crime under international law.
Difference MakerJack Reece helps a Noah's Ark of animals in IndiaFrom elephants to buffaloes, dogs to donkeys, Help in Suffering (HIS), a nonprofit animal welfare group in Jaipur, India, treats animals large and small at low or no cost.
Can music help heal Mali's war wounds?One of Mali's biggest stars, the singer-songwriter Salif Keita, says music can help bring peace and reconciliation to his homeland, which has been torn apart by an Islamist uprising in the north.
Zardozi helps Afghan women stitch together their own businessesThe NGO Zardozi helps women in Afghanistan start their own businesses by using a skill that most of them already know: sewing.
Ding-dong! Living Goods calling with life-changing productsLiving Goods delivers products 'to the doorsteps of the poor' in Uganda and Kenya, such as anti-malaria treatments, fortified foods, solar lamps, reading glasses, and sanitary pads that dramatically improve their health and well-being.
Push for biogas in Kenya asks women to get their hands dirtyWomen are among those being trained as masons to install biogas digesters in Kenya, providing households with cheap, clean energy and helping to slow climate change by replacing wood, gas, or kerosene.
Sticky notes promote acts of kindness in schoolsSPPRAK, a not-for-profit program in Terre Haute, Ind., literally 'notes' random acts of kindness by students, teachers, and staff.
Difference MakerIndira Johnson places intriguing sculptures to create dialogues on peaceDozens of giant Buddha heads emerging around Chicago are meant to be a catalyst for conversations about peace in troubled neighborhoods.
11 quotes from difference makers Ever wonder how you can help create positive change? Here is advice from 10 outstanding people whose lives made a difference in the world.
