Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Towards a greener construction with fly ash bricks

    February 19, 2021 |

    Climate Tracker |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: India

    Fly ash bricks help reduce construction waste by utilizing the powdery by-product of burning coal. They are a green replacement for red clay bricks, which contribute to 5-15% of India’s emissions. They also utilize waste from coal-based thermal plants, which often gets disposed of by being dumped in water bodies and on roadsides. In comparison to red clay bricks, fly ash bricks are less expensive and the production process doesn’t emit smoke or use the more fertile top soil. Their use has been mandated by some regions and about 150 small fly ash enterprises have emerged.

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  • How Banana Waste Is Turned Into Rugs, Fabric, And Hair Extensions

    February 19, 2021 |

    Business Insider |

    Video |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: Uganda, Kampala

    A Ugandan company called TEXFAD is taking the stems from banana trees that would normally go to waste and is turning them into new textiles like rugs, place mats, and hair extensions. Over its eight year existence, TEXFAD has grown to also employ 23 people, many of whom started in their internship program for students. While the cost to make these products can be expensive, the textiles are biodegradable and use less water and land to produce.

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  • The Bakery That's Owned by an Idea

    February 16, 2021 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

    Firebrand Artisan Breads hires people with high barriers to employment, such as people experiencing homelessness or who were formerly incarcerated. The higher-than-minimum-wage starting salary, paid time off, and insurance benefits provide sustainable and secure employment to people whose life circumstances make it harder to get a job. In order to raise capital while maintaining their employment model, the owner worked with lawyers to become a perpetual purpose trust, an alternative ownership model that allows the company to sell shares to private investors while ensuring their principles remain in place.

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  • A 19th Century Fund Is Still Helping Philadelphia's Smallest Businesses

    February 15, 2021 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    A long-running fund in Philadelphia has been able to help struggling small-business owners in the city since 1854. The Merchant Fund has been able to provide 67 businesses with $307,000 in grants since the onset of the pandemic. Additionally, it also helps entrepreneurs purchase real estate. The fund’s executive director notes, “Owning property is crucial to business longevity, and is fundamental to creating wealth that can be passed on.”

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  • Zimbabwe's mango growers look to the sun to boost incomes

    February 15, 2021 |

    Thomson Reuters Foundation |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Zimbabwe, Gokwe

    A new dried fruit processing center in Zimbabwe has allowed farmers to turn their excess mangos into another product that can be sold to various markets around the world. The center serves more than 3,400 farmers and farmers can fetch up to four times as much for dried mangos as they would normally get from selling the fruit.

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  • Treetop sensors help Indonesia eavesdrop on forests to cut logging

    February 11, 2021 |

    Thomson Reuters Foundation |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Indonesia, Solok, West Sumatra

    In Indonesia, there are 27 “Guardian” sensors eavesdropping on forests as a way to monitor them for cases of illegal logging. The organization Rainforest Connection uses artificial intelligence to analyze the audio from these sensors and if the system picks up the sound of a chainsaw, it sends a mobile alert to community patrols in the area. This technology can be scaled for other parts of the world and habitats. “We're basically building a nervous system for the natural world," says Topher White, founder of the nonprofit.

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  • The Coffee Shop Giving Homeless Youth a Chance at Success

    February 11, 2021 |

    Civil Eats |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    A coffee shop is employing young people experiencing homelessness. Employment at the coffee shop provides the stability and support they need to find and maintain housing. Income, structure, and skills gained from employment at the cafe are the springboard needed for the young adults to secure stability. 

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  • How a Young Activist Is Helping Pope Francis Battle Climate Change

    February 08, 2021 |

    The New Yorker |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: Holy See (Vatican City State), Rome

    Molly Burhans, a young cartographer and environmentalist, is using GIS technology to map out the Catholic Church’s global property holdings to encourage them to improve the environmental impact on the lands they own. Burhans’ organization called GoodLands has been working with various parishes and dioceses to help Church leaders — including Pope Francis — understand their vast landholdings. While finances and COVID-19 have impacted her progress, Burhans’ maps have been used for other purposes like mapping Catholic radio stations in Africa and tracking the whereabouts of priests accused of sexual abuse.

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  • Worker-Owned Cooperatives are Building Their Own Investment Network

    January 28, 2021 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States

    Cooperatives are getting the funding they need through a “nationwide network of loans funds and incubators that specialize in supporting and investing in cooperative businesses.” Coops lack access to traditional funding and are typically member funded. The new source of funding has allowed historically marginalized Black and Hispanic communities the opportunity to create coops where workers share ownership equally.

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  • Can global innovation competitions help unearth the next sustainability solution?

    January 28, 2021 |

    Ensia |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

    Initiatives set up by NGOs and private-public partnerships aim to make innovation possible around the world and support sustainability entrepreneurs in countries that often don’t have access to those opportunities. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology set up the ClimateLaunchpad competition to provide entrepreneurship coaching and training to clean-tech finalists and the Uplink global platform from the World Economic Forum brings innovators and investors together to support sustainability ideas.

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