Category Archives: social change

Why do I do what I do? {Guest Post by Clare Herbert}

Today I am happy to present a guest blog from the lovely Clare Herbert, who works on social entrepreneurship projects by day and is a writer by night. I love her blog and am glad she’s here to share some thoughts with us about her passion, what makes her tick, and why she does what…

Share

Transforming dreams into reality

I recently heard about a wonderful blog link-up on dreams started by Richenda Vermeulen and Lindsey Talerico and was inspired to join in. They write, “We’re writing about dreams this month because we believe when we share our dreams, we are dared to chase them. These dreams have inspired us, changed us, and fuelled our love for life…

Share

Building an international support network for aid workers {Guest post from WhyDev}

I am happy to support the folks over at whydev in their new initiative. whydev has been a wonderful site and resource for me: I love their honest, compassionate take on aid and development, which takes a more uplifting outlook than many websites on aid work out there (while still remaining critical – no easy…

Share

What would you do if no one was watching? Social justice & the allure of recognition

Here’s an urgent question I’ve been pondering lately: What would you (yes, you) do if no one was watching? Would you work in non-profits, in international development, in social entrepreneurship, in community-based NGOs around the world? Would you spend long hours every week furthering a cause you believing in, working on social justice movements? Would you…

Share

The Courage to Survive: Poetry, Social Justice & Advocacy

Did you know that April is national poetry month? Poetry has always been a big part of my life; growing up, I shuttled back to Hyderabad for summers to spend time with my grandparents, and one on summer, my grandfather handed me the biography of Rabindranath Tagore (amongst many other books about India’s freedom fighters…

Share

Interviewing Ryan & Tara of Peace Tree Africa!

Today, I have a fun interview with Ryan Schuette and Tara Smith, co-founders of Peace Tree Africa, an NGO that focuses on sustainable development in Cameroon. Ryan and Tara are a delightful couple who are partners not only in their development work, but in love—they recently got engaged on Valentine’s Day on live TV! I first…

Share

Away from the cameras, life goes on

As my last post discussed, I’m fascinated by the idea of what goes on behind the screen across the world. What is everyday life like, despite the media sensationalism and rhetoric focusing on the worst parts of any society? In my last post, I wrote about media representations of rape in the DRC, and how…

Share

Mr. Kristof and the narrative of “Americans saving Africans”

A new article by Kathryn Mathers called “Mr. Kristof, I Presume? saving Africa in the footsteps of Nicholas Kristof” is a scathing – and much needed – critique of Nick Kristof’s reporting. Not only this, but Mathers delves into the deeper history of American relations with Africa, and how we came to the current age…

Share

Building a barefoot movement

Here is another one of my favorite TED talks that I recently watched. Bunker Roy speaks about the Barefoot College he has helped create to train the poor for practical jobs including engineering, architecture, solar installation, and even dentistry! What is most impressive about Bunker Roy is his emphasis on *really* listening to the poor and…

Share

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon on Women Entrepreneurs

I absolutely love this TED Talk by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon on women entrepreneurs. She writes about all the entrepreneurs she’s met in her travels to Afghanistan and Rwanda – women who are seeking real investment, not microfinance. Who want to open factories, export their products, and hire hundreds of people. Who want $500,000 investments, not…

Share