All People Making a Difference
Former child workers in India bang the drum for educationThe musicians, who performed this week at one of India's top arts centers, use every platform they can to talk about their journey and have become an inspiration to local families.
Three years after damaging Colo. flood, teens help with river restorationAs part of a project to rehabilitate part of a river near Drake, Colo., a crew of teens planted vegetation. The project overall aims to make the river and surrounding habitat better able to survive a future flood.
This former inmate's prison rehab program goes beyond drug treatment鈥�Yusef Wiley created the Timelist Group to help fill gaps in California鈥檚 rehabilitation offerings. It has shown success in keeping parolees from going back to prison.
Difference MakerHow a headmaster is trying to save an ancient languageIn Greece鈥檚 Peloponnesus, Panagiotis Tsagouris has involved schoolchildren in his effort to preserve the Tsakonian language, considered the only descendant of Doric Greek.
A cooperative in Mexico takes on food system challenges 鈥� with chocolateThree friends formed the cooperative C.A.C.A.O. in their efforts to return to locally produced foods and to address problems such as food insecurity.
To fight wildfires in Pa., a time-tested tool makes a comeback: fire towersThe move to make fire towers operational again stems from the high cost of using airplanes to monitor forests during the fire season. Towers were once considered the best line of defense against forest fires.
In Kenya's drylands, farmers deal with climate shifts by turning to catfishSmall-scale farmers use 'home dams' that capture rainwater, helping them cope with water scarcity. And sales of the fish are providing income.
Difference MakerShe lives with, and takes an inclusive approach to, those with special needsIn 2000, Hannah Schwartz helped establish Heartbeet farm to offer care and opportunities for growth for adults with developmental disabilities.
She creates quilts with a messageNedra Bonds started quilting at age 6, never expecting it to be her lifework after retirement. One of her quilts helped stop the building of a landfill near a historical site.
Postcard program tracks education of children in India's migrant familiesMore than 10 million children are estimated to migrate with their families to different parts of India every year. As part of the postcard program, they send confirmation that they're back in school when they go home.
How beneficial are 'one-to-one' laptop programs in schools?Drawing on 15 years of observations, two researchers find that test scores improved significantly and that students exhibited a variety of other skills when they used laptops.
Difference MakerOn a walk with Michael Dukakis as he picks up litterThe former governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee says it makes his day when somebody says, 鈥楴ow you got me doin鈥� it.鈥�
Indonesian 'maid detectives' on mission to save women from traffickingA small team from the rights group Migrant Care tries to identify potential victims of human trafficking at Jakarta's airport and offer advice to others leaving of their own free will on how to look after themselves.
An Illinois church's furniture-refurbishing ministry helps single momsDouglas Avenue United Methodist Church wanted to try a different approach to helping single mothers who are in poverty or are healing from drug abuse, or both.
How SquashBusters uses sport to transform young livesSquashBusters takes a sport oft-regarded as elitist, introduces it to city kids, and uses it to boost their academic prospects, build character, and give them a sense of belonging.
Difference MakerAt Mexican border, he puts emphasis on the basic rights of migrantsEduardo 鈥楨ddie鈥� Canales tries to prevent the deaths of migrants passing through the sandy, scorching terrain of South Texas. He also works with families abroad who are searching for their loved ones.
Water pollution from agriculture: how wood chip bioreactors could helpWood chip bioreactors are simple trenches that can be constructed on farms to clean the water that flows out of tile drains. Although the bioreactors are already a proven practice, more work remains to be done.
Taste for mushrooms helps Tanzanian farmers protect forestWhen harvests fail, farmers turn to cutting forests聽鈥� but cultivating mushrooms could be an alternative. Farm Africa is teaching farmers to grow oyster mushrooms.
In Columbus, Ga., a training program opens doors for those in needThe Open Door Institute offers a 16-week life skills training program to both the homeless and low-income residents who are seeking documented skills to improve their chances of landing a decent-paying job.
How one nonprofit is transforming farming in MyanmarProximity Designs operates in Myanmar (Burma) with the goal of increasing income for the country鈥檚 rural poor. The organization鈥檚 agronomists work with farmers to come up with affordable solutions.