
Cities of Service
Website: https://citiesofservice.org/ Description: Cities of Service is a US nonprofit that networks city mayors and city chief executives to help leaders engage local communities and residents, identify challenges, and solve problems together. Blueprints and playbooks are available to download and share. Make your city stronger... starting with your leadership.They work with cities to build city-led, citizen-powered initiatives that target specific needs, achieve long-term a


Solar Household Energy
Website: http://www.she-inc.org/ Description: A step-by-step case-study of successful methods for achieving community buy-in for solar cooking as well as training for building them. Shared by Mary Simonson and Nancy Bailey. Implementation Effort: Moderate Maximum Cost: Audience: Individuals, Communities #EconomicDevelopment #Technology #education #LivableCommunities


Barefoot College
Website: http://barefootcollege.org Description: Training that addresses problems of drinking water, girl's education, health and sanitation, rural unemployment, as well as social awareness and the conservation of the organizations that already exist in the villages whose wisdom, knowledge and skills are neither identified, mobilized nor applied just because they do not have an educational qualification.The Barefoot College is a place of learning and unlearning. It's a place

Heifer International
Website: Email: Description: Heifer envisions…A world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet. Heifer’s mission is…To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Heifer's strategy is…To “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches


Big Boda Load-Carrying Bicycle
Website: http://www.worldbike.org/ Description: The Big Boda is able to carry hundreds of pounds of cargo or two additional passengers easily, at a substantially lower cost than other forms of human-powered utility vehicles. It was designed to transport goods to and from market for entrepreneurs and consumers in developing countries. Based off the Longtail design that was produced in partnership with Kickstart International in 2003, the Big Boda is made to fit the most common


KickStart Irrigation System
Website: http://kickstart.org/why-irrigation/#the-solution Description: Fights poverty in sub-Saharan Africa by selling low-cost irrigation pumps that dramatically raise farmers’ crop yields and incomes. Why: Pumping water can help a farmer grow grain in the dry season, when it fetches triple the normal price. Inventor Dr. Martin Fisher described customers who had skipped meals for weeks to buy a pump and then earned $1,000 the next year selling vegetables. This innovation h


Low -Cost Internet Kiosks for Developing Countries
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X8Y989Jro8 Description: Low-Cost Internet access and employment. These kiosks provide valuable services to communities while providing profitable employment options to the entrepreneurs who open them. A Google Tech video presentation Why: Users can download vital records, land records, consulting on medical and agricultural problems, crop and personal insurance, communications and banking. Low cost, reliable, user mobility, uses existi


Bamboo Bike Project
Website: http://calfeedesign.com/calfee-bamboo-diy-kit/ Description: The bike is an inexpensive and effective option for impoverished regions made from Bamboo that has been smoked and heat treated to prevent splitting. Lugs are available in carbon fiber or hemp fiber, for the all-natural look. The chain-stays are available in carbon fiber for extra stiffness in the drive-train. Award-winning effectiveness. Why: The Bamboo Bike Project is a collaboration between Scientists and


Days for Girls International
Website: https://www.daysforgirls.org/ Email: info@daysforgirls.org Days for Girls International provides and teaches how to make washable sanitary hygiene kits. This helps women, communities and nations to enable women to have access to washable feminine hygiene supplies in order to live EVERY day of their lives. Request DfG Kits, help make DfG Kits, donate, or learn more about how to establish developing enterprises for communities to sustain DfG Kit distribution. Why: Arou


Organic Zero-till Farming
Website: http://rodaleinstitute.org/our-work/organic-no-till/ These are ecologically sustainable, environmentally responsible, socially just, economically viable, humanely managed. On mini-farms the following will double the yields and reduce the labor by half compared to traditional methods. Nothing to buy except seed. Conserves health of soil. Why: Workshops in organic, no-till, permanent bed gardening, mini-farming and mini-ranching worldwide in English & Spanish Workshop