Using The Crowd To Save People After Disasters

Training refugees in digital skills provides them with a path toward self sufficiency. A pilot program developed with the UN World Food Program and the American University in Beirut offers computer literacy and English courses to Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. The approach aims to reduce reliance on food relief and empower individuals to find employment with new skills.

In Louisiana, where many communities face barriers to health care access, the implementation of a 211 hotline during the coronavirus pandemic has helped residents access the information they need to make informed decisions. The system has received hundreds of thousands of calls and because of this, the live specialists have also been able to collect meaningful data that helps the state to assess where there are areas of unmet needs.

To address a shortage of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, community members have begun to take on the task of producing face masks for medical professionals. From sewing masks to creating face shields with a 3D printer at a local library, communities are organizing and organizations are partnering to, at least temporarily, solve the problem.

As companies look to stay economically viable and responsive to customers during the coronavirus pandemic, many are beginning to turn to automation as a way to fill jobs that would have humans working too closely together. From Amazon's cloud-based call center service to autonomous robots that can cook, the coronavirus crisis has created a pathway for technological advancements to be put to use.

An ophthalmologist has created a smartphone application that allows not just doctors, but also non-specialists such as teachers, to conduct eye tests. The application helps those living in remote areas to access a service they otherwise may not be able to get and also allows for the few ophthalmologists who live in the area to only see the cases that are deemed necessary.

Though the big players in the sharing economy like Uber and Airbnb are eyeing growing middle class markets like that of Kenya, the concept of shared access to goods and services is nothing new for Kenyan communities. Whereas in the West, the shared economy structure arose largely from a desire for flexibility, in Kenya, much of it arose from need. Now platforms like Lynk and Little Cabs are helping connect Kenyan customers to a broad range of service providers.

This year’s Poptech Conference, a 19-year-old gathering for thinkers and world-changers, celebrated hybrid thinking across industry sectors, or “when disciplinary boundaries fall by the wayside" - four of their projects are discussed.

Nepal combined strict protected area management with community participation (including buffer zone revenue-sharing, community-based anti-poaching patrols, and prey base restoration) to nearly quadruple its wild tiger population from 121 (in 2010) to 429 (in 2026). Simultaneously, tiger-related human deaths reduced from 21 to 7 per year, despite the tigers' growing population.

Helpster Charity operates a tech-enabled emergency financing model that connects families facing urgent medical bills with donors through a website and app. The nonprofit uses volunteers stationed at partner health facilities to identify patients who can’t afford critical care for conditions like malaria, sickle cell anemia, and kidney problems. The organization has helped provide treatment for over 2,000 families across Nigeria, Kenya and Bangladesh.

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) trains local communities to create and use open-source maps with low-cost tools like drones and mobile apps, enabling them to prepare for and respond to climate disasters. Firefighters used the maps to prevent casualties during a 2021 wildfire in Argentina, and in Kenya maps were used to secure World Bank funding for flood infrastructure improvements.