Category Archives: Activism

Activism

Some practical advice on how to help the homeless find work

Video

I recently watched a TED talk by Richard J. Berry, the mayor of Albuquerque in the US. I love the practical hands on attitude of this guy and his city council.  The video, related info and links are below. I’m a strong advocate of not complaining about issues like this (and other issues) unless you going to do something about it. So how about trying something that’s proven to work?

When Richard J. Berry, the mayor of Albuquerque, saw a man on a street corner holding a cardboard sign that read “Want a job,” he decided to take him (and others in his situation) up on it. He and his staff started a citywide initiative to help the homeless by giving them day jobs and a place to sleep — and the results were incredible. Find out how your city can replicate Albuquerque’s model with this frank and optimistic talk.

Video + text credit: TED

Activism

Global Learning XPRIZE

Update 2018/01/29:

Finalist Teams Announced

Back in 2014, XPrize launched a new competition designed to tackle illiteracy in the developing world. Like all XPrize competitions, the Global Learning challenge was aimed at solving a big problem by offering up serious prize money to technology teams all the world. In this case, the problem to be addressed is the fact that hundreds of millions of children around the world cannot read, write or do basic arithmetic. The competition has now been whittled down to five finalists.

Read more

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I’m very excited about this project and so happy that I was able to contribute to the Indiegogo campaign. It’s such a worthy cause and truly something I believe in passionately. Without education, we will fail to rid the world of the massive problems we face.  Some hard hitting facts:

  •  1.6 Million more teachers are needed in classrooms by 2015 – UNESCO
  • 250 million children around the world cannot read or write – UNESCO
  • Learning basic reading skills could lift 171 million people out of poverty – UNESCO

Here is some more information if you interested in this amazing project:

You can read more here: Global Learning XPRIZE

Image credit: Global Learning XPRIZE