Thanks to you, we came a close second in October’s Ideablob competition. But don’t be too down! We didn’t win, but a lot of people learned about our cause. Now we’re in another competition, this time with better odds and a bigger reward. But we need your vote! No donation is needed[...]
Archive for the ‘Social Entrepreneurship’ Category
Going Green(er) in Guatemala
In my first few months in Guatemala, I winced every time I threw away a plastic yogurt cup or cardboard cereal box. It was extremely frustrating not to be able to recycle all of the things that fit into my cute blue bin in the United States. My trash can filled to the brim with [...][...]
October 15th, 2009 - 3:17 pm § in Around Town, Brazil, Country, Good Ideas, News, Social Entrepreneurship
A Race of Olympic Proportions: Blog Action Day 2009
Catalytic Communities is about to embark on a new project called Rio Floresta, a planting and community mobilization project designed to improve the lives of Rio’s approximately six million residents. Currently, the North Zone – home to 2 million people – is 3°C warmer than the famous[...]
October 14th, 2009 - 2:34 pm § in Good Ideas, Social Entrepreneurship
Must Read: Strategies to Empower a Community/Organization
Rules for Radicals, by Saul Alinksy: This book is about community organizing by one of, if not the most, famous radicals/idealists of all time. Saul Alinksy began his work in the Chicago stockyards, was a radical icon in the 60’s, and worked towards achieving his ideals until he passed away in[...]
October 1st, 2009 - 1:34 pm § in Belize, Doing, Good Ideas, Social Entrepreneurship, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
Need Some Cash? 10 Ways to Fundraise
Fundraising is usually a big part of volunteering. Lack of financial resources often require you to get creative, which when done well, can be very successful not to mention fun. If you need some cash for your nonprofit or project but aren’t sure where to begin, here are ten fundraising idea[...]
Tags: cash, fundraising, Holy Cross 3 Comments
September 25th, 2009 - 11:10 am § in Around Town, Doing, Good Ideas, Social Entrepreneurship, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
When Boredom Attacks
One of the images you don’t conjure up when dreaming of a trip to South America is the one of you on your laptop, messing around online for four consecutive hours. In other words, those days when lunchtime is by far the most thrilling part of your day. On Sunday night, I was excited to begin [..[...]
Tags: boredom, Kiva, Kiva Fellow 3 Comments
September 16th, 2009 - 11:05 am § in Around Town, Doing, Good Ideas, Social Entrepreneurship, Tips & Resources
Don’t Stop Talking…Ever!
Networking is hard enough in English. It takes patience and a lot of time, even with all our social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. But what about in a language that I have not yet mastered, and in a culture that I might never fully identify with? And how about if the majority [...]
Tags: change, momentum, networking, not giving up, talking 2 Comments
September 2nd, 2009 - 2:07 pm § in Around Town, Brazil, Careers, Doing, Good Ideas, Looking, Social Entrepreneurship, Volunteer
Defining Resources
Each community has a different set of problems and solutions. Although it seems like these communities have very little, they are somehow able to create so much. How do you create something of tremendous value with few or no resources? I decided the answer lies in how you define “resources.” Res[...]
The Birth of Solutions
Once I stepped foot into my first favela, there was no turning back. I was truly spellbound. I had learned how they formed, I knew a bit of their tumultuous history, and my next obstacle was to understand how they functioned. It also came time for me to choose a topic for my master’s thesis. Initi[...]
Tags: community, favela, Rio de Janeiro, solutions 1 Comment
Where We Pull Apart, We Bind Together
Rolling in on the overnight bus last night, I wiped the glass on the sopping wet window to see a mamacha seated on a curb, and I couldn’t help but smile. I’d been gone from the Central Andean town of Ayacucho for about a week, and I had already begun to miss seeing the [...][...]
Tags: Andes, Kiva Fellow, mamacha No Comments
