All People Making a Difference
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.
- Gates, Zuckerberg champion computer programming in a new nonprofit videoBill Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey lobby for the teaching of computer coding in a new video produced by the nonprofit group Code.org.
- Arts program for the homeless hopes to gain from Oscar success of 'Innocente'San Diego-based ARTS (A Reason to Survive) helped 15-year-old Inocente Izucar survive when she was homeless. An Oscar-winning film about her life, called 'Innocente,' helps show how the arts can benefit those in need.
Heroes to Heroes helps wounded US vets recoverHeroes to Heroes takes groups of traumatized US veterans on a journey to Israel meant to restore their sense of humanity and civility.
Karen Olson taps religious groups to help the homelessFamily Promise now has 182 affiliates in 41 states helping families in need achieve independence and self-sufficiency.
'Sand dams' store water for dry season in semi-arid KenyaSimple dams that can be constructed in a day by unskilled laborers may revolutionize Kenyan agriculture by storing millions of liters of water, providing once-parched communities with water for domestic use and irrigation throughout the year.
Difference MakerAnshu Gupta brings 'clothing for dignity' to IndiaHis nonprofit group, called GOONJ, collects and gives away used clothing. The twist: The needy 'pay' for their clothes by doing service work in their communities.- Creative Connections links kids worldwide through artUS students partner with children from one of nearly 50 other countries to exchange their artworks and then share ideas face-to-face via a videoconference.
Time Bank helps neighbors put skills to use, swap servicesThe Care and Share Time Bank puts a universal twist on being neighborly: Members call on their neighbors for help with anything from a drive to the airport to a Spanish lesson – and then offer help in return.
In Detroit, a nonprofit fights urban blightThe nonprofit Detroit Blight Authority is helping to pay to tear down abandoned buildings and clear away debris to make the city cleaner and safer.
Cut food waste to help feed the world, experts sayAround the world 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year. A more efficient food supply is a key to feeding an expected world population of 9 billion by 2050.
Nonprofit 'Sesame Street' nears 1 billion views on YouTubeKids urged to unlock a 'top secret video' when 1 billion views is reached. For 'Sesame Street,' the milestone — a first on YouTube for a nonprofit — reflects the multimedia nature of kids entertainment.