Here's a story of how one Changemaker is turning trash into treasure:
Bangladesh has a garbage problem. Dhaka, a city of about 10 million has a particularly big garbage problem. Of the 3,500 tons of trash dumped each day, only half is picked up by the city. The rest is left to lie in the open streets of slums, marketplaces, vacant lots and riverbanks, attracting rats, clogging drains and threatening serious disease.
Read more about this solution, or discuss this topic below.
Created: 06/01/09 by Anonymous
Bangladesh has a garbage problem. Dhaka, a city of about 10 million has a particularly big garbage problem. Of the 3,500 tons of trash dumped each day, only half is picked up by the city. The rest is left to lie in the open streets of slums, marketplaces, vacant lots and riverbanks, attracting rats, clogging drains and threatening serious disease.
Created on 05/31/2009 by bluekitabu
The main idea behind Entrepreneurs for Africa's Future is that students need a valuable and sustainable learning experience that allows them to apply their skills outside of the classroom. Students also need to employ themselves in places that have very few jobs for thousands of graduates. Thus, Blue Kitabu is focusing on entrepreneurial learning that teaches our students how to apply their business, science, math, art, health, language, reading and writing education to their daily lives. Through learning these skills at school, the students will be able to generate produc
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideCountry your work focuses on:
Ghana (also have had projects in Rwanda and currently have prospects in Kenya)
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1-5 years
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
<$10
Name Your Project
Entrepreneurs for Africa's Future: Blue Kitabu
Describe Your Idea
The main idea behind Entrepreneurs for Africa's Future is that students need a valuable and sustainable learning experience that allows them to apply their skills outside of the classroom. Students also need to employ themselves in places that have very few jobs for thousands of graduates. Thus, Blue Kitabu is focusing on entrepreneurial learning that teaches our students how to apply their business, science, math, art, health, language, reading and writing education to their daily lives. Through learning these skills at school, the students will be able to generate products and income to cover the costs of their education such as art, produce, livestock, etc. Through this method, they will be able to thoughtfully problem solve based on what they learn inside the classroom. This makes the project and the students self sustained without having to worry about the flow of international aid. The application of math, reading, writing, science and art skills outside of the classroom is the proven method to student success as it provides a meaningful learning experience as opposed to rote memorization which happens in so many of the world's classrooms.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideDescribe your idea in fewer than 50 words.
Our main idea is to foster sustainable educational development by providing free entrepreneurial schooling to the most needy students. Blue Kitabu has utilized this idea in Rwanda and Ghana, and now we are building an entire school facility based around this principle. Our students will utilize critical thinking in farming, vocational work, hands-on projects and more.
What makes your idea unique?
The unique idea is to have a first rate education in all subjects that the Ghanaian school system requires. Then we add the element of vocational, entrepreneurial training that will not only utilize practical math and critical thinking, but also lay the foundation for the school. The school will be the first of its kind in Ghana. Before, students never got to utilize what they learned in the classroom OUTSIDE of the classroom, and the Ghana school will focus on teaching the necessary skills to use their education to the fullest. The main skills that will be taught are in agriculture, livestock rearing, pottery, art and batik-making (Ghanaian tie-dye!). Knowledge is best learned through application and meaningful experiences, which is what we provide. The project also focuses on local communities and their own resources to achieve sustainability and escape aid dependence. We go beyond importing our own teachers and teaching methods. We train local teachers in entrepreneurial methods so that they can apply it to business that is relevant to community needs. We have a team who is developing and optimizing our entrepreneurial teacher professional development curriculum. They are doing this with local teachers as well as former Ghanaian teachers residing in the US. The curriculum utilizes the best methods from around the world, such as the Singapore Method for math and science. The team consults Ghanaian standards to ensure that students meet the requirements to be admitted to college in their country or abroad. The school also has a strong environmental focus. The school will utilize all-natural pesticides and chemical-free fertilizers and will harvest rainwater for bathing and drinking, as wells deplete the natural ground water resources. Last, but most important, our model is unique because we do not focus on "saving" but on "empowering".
What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)
Children & Youth
, Early childhood development
, Education
, Education reform
, Youth development
, Youth leadership
, Development & Prosperity
, Community development
, Economic development
, Food security
, Poverty alleviation
, Sustainable development
, Environment & Sustainability
, Sustainable agriculture
, Sustainable design
, Water
, Food
, Health education
, Vulnerable populations
.
What impact have you had?
In Rwanda, 70 orphans have benefited from our entrepreneurial methods, as they are 100% supported from the sales of a local bakery that Blue Kitabu refurbished. The bakery is providing vocational training for students and the community members who wish to one day start their own businesses. In Ghana, 200 students in Accra have had photography classes since 2007 and many of them have decided to sell their photos to support their education and the continuance of the classes. Hands-on learning is at the root of our impact. The impact we have had on our current project is that we have begun vocational training in batiks and have also begun to sell the products in Ghanaian and US stores. A percentage of the profits benefit the women and students who make the batiks and the remainder goes back into the school project. We have already begun to generate income in the Asebu community and the students have already begun vocational training. The school is currently being constructed, and we will be able to provide our training and year-round schooling in full force when it is completed. Blue Kitabu has also mapped out all of the teachers unions in the Central Region, so when our training is complete we plan on holding a region-wide training.
Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.
The first problem that our project is addressing is the lack of a usable education in Ghana. Students have few resources or opportunities to apply their education outside of the classroom and therefore leave school without any skills to support themselves. 60% of JSS (middle school) graduates have no craft or technical skills to enter the job market. The second problem is aid dependence - short term aid does not provide skills for sustainability. The third problem is the growing disconnect from our environment. Farmers in Ghana and throughout the world use chemical fertilizers and pesticides that poison our earth. The project teachers students easy, environmentally friendly methods to produce better crops with organic fertilizer and natural pesticides. We already have this curriculum developed. Art classes also will use recycled materials such as plastic bottles, tin cans and old newspapers which often line the streets.
Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.
1. The organization is developing and optimizing a teacher training that focuses on hands-on learning methods. This is being created from the best sources globally, and we are only using proven learning methods. 2. We are constantly in contact with our project team on the ground in Ghana to provide updates and have developed a time line and accounting system to ensure that everything is on schedule and that all expenses are accounted for. 3. We are raising money - we have already had one very successful fundraiser and are having two more in the upcoming months. 4. We are connecting with the local community and with the Ministry of Education to ensure that we do not alienate our students from the existing education system. Although our teaching methods are different, we still want students to be able to obtain high scores to be admitted into the high school and university system in Ghana.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:
1. A finished school, functioning and producing goods to cover at least 15% of their operating costs, 2. A responsive, eager teaching staff, 3. An effective bookkeeping system, 4. Students that are happy with new teaching methods and hands-on learning (which will be monitored through a quarterly evaluation system), 5. Vocational training will be fully operating in batiks, 6. Students will produce enough crops from their farming classes to provide lunch for everyone at the school, 7. Farming will produce crops to sell at the market, 7. Begin expanding school boarding facilities (which currently houses 20 students) to house 50 students.
Success in Year 2:
1. A fully functional school producing goods to cover 50% of their operating costs, 2. Vocational training and sales will be fully operating in batiks and pottery, 3. Students, in addition to producing all of their crops for their lunches, will produce crops to sell at the market as well as secondary products such as jams, chutneys, and cooked meals out of the school kitchen, 4. Begin construction of shop adjacent to school where products will be sold, 5. Teacher retention rate for the year at least 80%, 6. Expand school boarding facilities to house 100 students.
Success in Year 3:
1. A fully functional school producing goods to cover 100% of their operating costs, 2. Vocational training and sales will be fully operating in batiks, pottery and various recycled art forms demonstrated in the classroom, 3. Students will produce the above-mentioned crops and products as well as have a fully functional shop adjacent to the school where they sell everything they produce to cut out any middle men, 4. Teacher retention rate for the year at 100%, 5. Expand school boarding facilities to house all student in attendance at the school.
Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:
We need to find and employ educators who are willing to dedicate themselves full-time to the teacher training panel to optimize and update training materials. Right now everyone is working on a voluntary, part-time basis. Although we have made wonderful strides, full-time panel members would optimize the work.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:
Blue Kitabu is seeking and applying for renewable grants to keep our work consistent. Everyone on our staff is working on a voluntary basis, which runs us the risk of losing people to paid positions. We also want to apply our entrepreneurial, sustainable school model elsewhere and cannot apply this model in other places until we have larger project grants as well.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:
We need to expand our teams on the ground. Although we have a team prospect in Kenya and teams in Ghana and Rwanda, in order for our model to be influential we need to expand our local, on the ground members. Blue Kitabu is constantly networking here in the US, but travel to other African countries is ultimately the best way to cultivate project and country teams.
Describe the expected results of these actions.
When we are able to employ or find volunteer educators to work on our teacher training full time, the training would be tailored to each individual country, their languages and their standards. We also plan to "train teacher trainers" who will spread our work to our project sites. This will expand the entrepreneurial school model across the developing world and spread the word of sustainability in poor communities. When we receive renewable grants and expand our teams, Blue Kitabu will be able to secure a full-time (and hopefully lifetime!) staff and our vision and work will stay consistent. We will also be able to build and foster more entrepreneurial schools across Africa, which will speed up the move toward sustainable development and environmentally friendly farming. We would be able to finish our project in Ghana as well as our current prospect in Kenya and begin others.
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
A school in Accra, Ghana sparked this innovation - the school ran month to month and relied on school fees and volunteer donations to function, and often could not pay their teachers. If sustainable practices had been instituted from the beginning, it could have functioned independently without worrying about paying salaries and about whether or not children and their parents would be able to pay their school fees to keep the school open. Instead of this, the school could have focused on providing a quality education. Samuel, a student from this school said in response to not being able to pay his school fees, "Madam, the money is just not there." It is that simple. If the money doesn't come, the system breaks down. Some foundations and organizations think that throwing money and food at developing countries is the way to help them escape poverty. Many times this money and food does not reach the most impoverished people and often widens the poverty gap. Aid undercuts local markets. Seeing this in Africa, the board of directors decided to take a sustainable approach to development, and education in particular. Alex (CDO) and Elizabeth (CEO) have spent considerable time in East and West Africa, respectively, observing these practices, and seeing the damage that endless aid causes. Without ownership and influence over development projects, developing countries and their communities do not develop any necessary skills or jobs to improve their future in the long run.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Elizabeth Barreras, CEO, has a strong connection to innovative education and minority education specifically. Part of a unique educational structure from 3rd grade through high school, and also of a mixed ethnic background, Elizabeth experienced the benefits of a non-conventional education and benefited greatly. The program she was selected for was only available to 20 students in each grade level, thus shutting out the large majority of students from experiencing a hands-on, rich curriculum. This inspired Elizabeth to work with low performing and minority students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which is severely lacking in resources, and she realized that adapting education to a student’s specific needs and making education fun and interesting yielded fantastic results. While working in West Africa, she utilized these methods in place of rote, disengaged learning that happens in the majority of schools because, like schools in LA Unified, they lacked the resources and teacher training necessary to make learning valuable and meaningful. She realized that the value of education everywhere was lost in the goal of meeting standards and good test scores. Elizabeth went on to receive her Master’s degree in African Studies and focused on minority language education in Africa. The insight gained from research, work and travel made her dedicate her time and resources to improving the quality and sustainability of education globally.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Blue Kitabu came across Changemakers by following Ashoka - since they believe in similar development concepts, Blue Kitabu kept up with Ashoka in the news for new ideas and innovations.
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat would prevent your project from being a success?
Blue Kitabu has an excellent project team in Ghana, but if the local team were to decide to abandon the project, this would stand in the way of our project being successful. Of course we could replace them, but since we handpick our projects based on local leadership and on trust, this would set the project back immensely. At the end of the day we would still be successful, but it would take a longer period of time. The Blue Kitabu team is very confident that we will be able to secure the funds to finish our Ghana project by the end of 2009, but if we were not able to secure funding beyond this project, we would not be successful in replicating the project. Our success has to be replicated in order to reform education in developing countries. The success of the Ghana project (and the funds we expect to receive after demonstrating this success) is vital to us continuing our work in sustainable educational development. Thus far, we have laid the groundwork for the Ghana project to be a complete success. We anticipate that there will be problems along the way, but have preempted many potential issues by a rigorous application and screening process before we committed to this project.
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
We have a board of three directors.
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideDoes your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Our partnerships have been critical to the success of our innovation because we have received invaluable advice and input from our partners. We believe in learning from others and always avoid reinventing the wheel! We have partnered with and utilized information from NGOs here in the US and in the UK for information on utilizing and funding volunteers as well as on how to optimize our entrepreneurial school model. We are also working with the USC Keck School of Medicine to form our health curriculum. Our partnerships with NGOs on the ground in Africa are vital for us to work directly with communities and with our students. These partnerships ensure that we are serving them in the ways they need, and not just in the ways we think they need. They provide us with valuable insight into the work we need to do, and how to customize work we have already done to fit their needs. Our business partnerships have enhanced our exposure to a larger donor base.
How many people will your project serve annually?
What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?
Everyone is a volunteer, but we have three full time employees and ten part time volunteers.
What is your organization's business classification?
Non-profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)
None of the above.
Created on 05/26/2009 by Childrenofthelight3
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideCountry your work focuses on:
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1-5 years
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
<$50
Name Your Project
Educational Development Center
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideDescribe your idea in fewer than 50 words.
The idea is to build an educational and development center for daily after-school programs. This center would serve the full spectrum of children, both in and out of school, providing a safe, loving, and clean environment. Additionally, the center will have a teacher resource section that will encourage professional growth. Teachers will be invited to learn from and observe our methods of teaching. The children will be encouraged in spiritual growth, creativity, environmental care, academics, and recreation.
What makes your idea unique?
Our unique teaching style emphasizes all forms of creativity. Through bible teachings, dance, drama, songs, special projects and programs our students thrive in learning in a comfortable and non-threatening environment. Children here are physically and emotionally supported. They are motivated to learn through positive reinforcement. Character building and moral education is a cornerstone to developing healthy families. Additionally, our students will learn to love and care for their environment through composting, alternate forms of energy, and an awareness of the living world around them. The unique location of our future center, in the Aburi Mountains, will allow ample opportunity for exploration and conservation. Children of the Light is for all children, not strictly the underprivileged or wealthy. “Children helping children, children teaching children”
What is your area of work? (Please check as many as apply.)
Children & Youth
, At risk youth
, Behavioral issues
, Boys' development
, Child care
, Child exploitation
, Child labor
, Child protection
, Early childhood development
, Education
, Education reform
, Girls' development
, Mentorship
, Play
, Youth development
, Adult education
, Community development
, Corporate social responsibility
, Employment
, Mentorship
, Animal rights
, Energy conservation
, Waste and recycling
, Water
, Wildlife conservation
, Health & Fitness
, Disability
, Health education
, HIV/AIDS
, Recreation
, Sexuality
, Sports
, Substance abuse
, Arts and culture
, Social work
, Spirituality
, Sports
, Volunteerism
, Youth leadership.
What impact have you had?
The Children of the Light ministry has had a profound impact on the community. Through a partnership with a children’s home in Bolgatanga, children are encouraged to see outside of their own lives and reach out to help others. Parcels are designed and sent to underprivileged children in the Northern Region. Since its inception, we have seen children learn how to read, greatly improve their penmanship, grasp English as a second language and develop their art, spelling, and math abilities while fostering creativity. In addition to our weekly programs, we have an annual research project presentation, reading month activities, several competitions, and a Christmas concert. This year’s project consists of studying the seven continents, learning the flags of various countries, and individual country study including a related bible verse. Reading month is a fun time with many volunteers coming to do one-on-one reading with the students. Academic competitions help to excite the students about learning. The Christmas concert is an opportunity for drama and dance in a creative presentation. Through this concert, the local community sees the full potential of the students. We have seen exponential growth in our children’s self confidence through the performances, competitions, and presentations.
Describe the primary problem(s) that your project is addressing.
Children of the Light addresses the grave problem of inadequate education in the lives of Ghanaian children. This is the root of other serious problems such as poverty, crumbling family structures, low self-esteem, and neglect. For various reasons, students in the Ghanaian schools slip through the cracks without fully developing their academic skills. As a result, these students are hindered from advancing to higher education and reaching their career goals. Children of the Light seeks to break the harsh cycle of inadequate education. Parents who attended school, but didn’t actually learn anything, don’t understand the purpose of sending their children to school. Parents of children attending our program see that education can transform their lives.
Describe the steps that your organization is taking to make your project successful.
Over the past four years, the program has grown and expanded. A 20-foot container has been transformed into a bright, ever-growing library with a collection of learning resources. The purchase of tables and benches has enhanced learning and promoted one-on-one and small group instruction. Children of the Light is in the final stages of purchasing land for the education and developmental center. The land is now officially registered in the name of Children of the Light.
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Success in Year 1:
Complete final stages of our land purchase. There is USD2,200.00 left to pay. Clear and grass a portion of the 1.316 acres of land (funding recently given to complete this task). Create a road to the land along with a car park. Begin construction on the pavilion which will be used as a basketball court and assembly hall. Build a standpipe and toilet facilities. Plant an orchard, set up a compost pile and incinerating unit. Move the container to the new land. Continue multi-weekly programs, activities and projects. Create a Children of the Light webpage.
Success in Year 2:
Build summer huts to be used for learning centers. Build volunteer quarters. Build a library and office building. Purchase two vehicles to assist in transporting children and supplies.
Success in Year 3:
Build dorms for camps complete with kitchens and toilets. Branches of Children of the Light established throughout Ghana. The center in Kitase will be the headquarters for all other branches.
Do you have a business plan or strategic plan? (yes/no)
Our business plan is to continue raising funds through prayer, strategic partnerships, website, newsletters, advertizing in local businesses and churches, maintaining current relationships with donors, and winning the Changemakers competition. Sufficient funding will allow our dream of an education and developmental center to be realized.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 1:
Publicizing our dream and encouraging people to catch the vision and partner with Children of the Light. Boldly moving forward with our dream will impact the children of today.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 2:
Maintaining the academic quality of the program so that children can move to the next level in their education and local teacher development. Draw teachers from international schools in Accra, Ghana, to volunteer.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization? STEP 3:
Growth in three ways: the number of committed children, the facilities and programs offered, and the growth of quality and carefully-screened staff
Describe the expected results of these actions.
The education and developmental center will allow for growth and expansion of all programs. The after-school programs will be increased from three times a week to a daily program. With larger facilities, more children from surrounding areas will be able to come and be positively impacted. At-risk children will continue their education at our center instead of dropping out. There will be more outdoor space for the children to learn and engage in physical activities. We will teach hands-on environmental care and conservation, which will inspire them to love the Earth. Our outdoor facility will benefit the children’s overall learning experiences. It will be more conducive to both large and small group learning. Additionally, this site will encourage children to have personal ownership for the center.
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
After coming back to Ghana from New Zealand in 2004, I realized the dire need for educational programs. Children I met here were not reading even though they were attending schools. In my local neighborhood, there is a high drop-out rate with children leaving school and becoming street sellers. The first meeting was at a school in August 2005 with a handful of children present. In January 2007, we moved the ministry to my home. We are currently using a container which is in front of our house to serve as a library, office, and storeroom. However, books and other resources are quickly piling up inside of the house. With increased support, we plan to continue to the vision at a better location.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
I was born and raised in New Zealand and migrated to Ghana in 1994, a day before I turned 30. I have three children ages 12, 9, and 6. I am a full time Pre-K4 teacher at the American International School in Accra, Ghana. I am actively involved in my church, leading the children’s Sunday school program. Additionally, I am a full time administrator and part-time teacher at Children of the Light. At the end of the day, my heart’s desire is for children to have a fulfilled and happy childhood.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
I first heard about Changemakers through a mother of one of my students.
This Entry is about (Issues)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideWhat would prevent your project from being a success?
Nothing will prevent our success. Against all odds, the ministry has grown and a solid foundation has already been laid. God has been faithful in this ministry and has provided every step of the way. However, our efforts will be greatly hindered without adequate funding.
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating? (i.e. less than a year; 1-5 years; more than 5 years)
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes, there is an Advisory Board
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs? (yes/no)
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses? (yes/no)
read more↓↑ hide↑ hideDoes your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government? (yes/no)
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
How many people will your project serve annually?
What is the total number of employees and total number of volunteers at your organization?
Employees: 3
Volunteers: 7
What is your organization's business classification?
Non-profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Have you received funding from any of the following groups? (Please check as many as apply.)
None of the above.
main
san francisco United States
Best idea to spread imaginative creative constructive community developement around the world, not just in developing nations but at home where we have similar social issues and poverty.
great work.
good luck
In Ibadan, Nigeria, tackling one problem led to solutions for many.
Created: 04/17/09 by Anonymous
Milind Ranade is cleaning up the working conditions of unskilled laborers in Indian cities. Through the revolutionary labor union he founded, Kachra Vahtuk Sanghash Samiti (KVSS), or the 'Waste Collectors and Transporters Union,' Ranade is challenging corruption, and championing the untouchable waste collectors who have been neglected by India's mainstream labor organizations.
