All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerResponsible fatherhood: He鈥檚 been a key voice in the national conversationJoseph Jones knows firsthand what it feels like as a kid to not have a father around. So he鈥檚 been helping other men be good parents for decades now.
Wiser from his past, a former gang member in Nicaragua helps at-risk kidsJairo Blanchard has organized a soccer league and other activities through his nonprofit, Recreaci贸n Sana. An estimated 800 children in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, take part.
How Gal谩pagos giant tortoises have made a comebackAs many as 300,000 giant tortoises once roamed the Gal谩pagos 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 refugeesMany 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 worldBlockchain 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 peopleG茅za Dely didn鈥檛 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 youthsAliya 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 timeDesign professors explain how products ranging from the paper clip to Microsoft HoloLens have solved problems and transformed practices.
So girls in developing regions don鈥檛 have to stay home a few days a monthThe nonprofit Sewpportive Friends is creating menstrual supplies for two Zimbabwean locations 鈥� a sign of the increased global attention that鈥檚 being paid to this issue.
Difference MakerIn Japan, young women鈥檚 problems are often ignored. But she鈥檚 ready to help.Jun Tachibana has talked with thousands of girls and young women in the past 10-plus years as they deal with problems ranging from poverty to drug addiction to abuse.
How one man found his calling as a peacemaker, especially in prisonsDouglas Noll was a trial lawyer for 22 years, but since leaving the courtroom, he has taught mediation techniques to inmates through the organization he cofounded, Prison of Peace.
How a book club for middle school girls is giving them the chance to growA high school senior came up with the idea of the book club as a way to mentor younger girls using literature. Now, some of the girls who were in the club its first year are returning four years later as mentors.
Innovations in online learning for refugees, slum children earn UN prizeThe JAAGO Foundation, which operates for disadvantaged children in Bangladesh, and Kiron, which provides refugees with free access to higher education, are joint recipients of a $25,000 UN award.
Jews and Arabs come together for backgammon championship in JerusalemThe gathering was part of a series of events organized by Double Yerushalmi, a group trying to build closer ties between Arabs and Jews through cultural activities.
Difference MakerHow a mother-daughter duo has helped inmates read with their kidsElizabeth Handel and her daughter Jane have collected some 30,000 books that have then been distributed to prisons in the Boston area. When inmates share the books with their children, it can strengthen family bonds.
How one man is fighting graffiti in his townAlan Erickson keeps supplies in his truck so he can remove graffiti as soon as he sees it when he鈥檚 out. He encourages others to join the fight, saying a relatively small time commitment would make a big difference.
A father starts 'The Kindness Challenge' to honor his late son's compassionDennis Vassallo launched a Facebook page to share stories of kindness and urge people to do good deeds. Some say the page, which has attracted 44,000-plus followers, has inspired them to spend more time helping others.
By migrants for migrants: the new faces of Italian media'Nois' is the first video news show in Italy to be developed by migrants. It's one of a growing number of migrant-led media projects across Europe that offer refugees' perspectives and explore the challenges they face.
Difference MakerThis man has created a different kind of urban school for students of colorRoses in Concrete Community School, founded by Jeff Duncan-Andrade, offers its students the kind of art and music classes more often seen in wealthy suburbs 鈥� with a twist.