September 2012 Blog Posts (90)

I believe what it really means to be a social inovator, as described in point #7 of design in Africa is to empower the people. The root of helplessless in the face of hunger is that individuals do not have the capacity to produce there own food, a problem which can't be solved by merely giving food, that only perpetuates the cycle. To solve the issue we must give in the beginning and teach others how to produce it themselves to become self sufficient and then aid others in there community.…

"Innovation (often) comes from constraint." This is very true. For every great invention or innovation, there has been a need, the innovator has seen that need, and consequently searched for a way to answer it. This is what we should all do to figure out global problems before they become epidemics. The Water Project and other organizations like it have found ways to utilize cheap utensils to create wells and purifiers that can provide water to Africa, Haiti, and the like. Even those who are…

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I liked the wh*** list but I really like the one that stresses the need to provide a sustainability piece. How can we really help peole in the developing world if we do not provide them with long term solutions that they can actively be a part of.

I think the best secert is to see and do the obvious. All too often we try to over think the problems and make them more complex then they need to be. We tend to forgot the little or obvious things that need to get done first before we can even move on to the bigger issues.

My hero would have to be my Uncle Ches. He is currently working on obtaining his automotive mechanic certification. My uncle retired from the military almost 10 years ago. Instead of taking a very high paying military consulting/contractor job he chose to teach middle school. After e few years of doing so he felt a calling to the automotive field. His father owned a truck stop while he was growing up so I think it runs in his blood. After my uncle completes his automotive certificate he…

What a great idea! This project has been in service to developing countries since 1991. The staff at Hippo Water Roller have done a great job at using their exposure to technology to help those who are less fortunate. It is hard for me to imagine not having running water. To think of marching to and from a watering h*** carrying your entire water supply back to your home with you. The Hippo Roller has aided this daily chore by relieving any potential head, neck or spine injuries due to the…

In the year 2020, I hope to be living in Charleston, South Carolina and teaching at The Citadel. I try to help prepare my students in ways that will benefit them today and in the future. Through my research and writing work, I hope to gain greater insight into good governance, various approaches to foreign aid, and issues related to transparency and accountability in political economy.

I selected Maria Rodriquez from Guatemala as my social innovation hero. She founded Byoearth, a project that trains farmers to raise worms. By introducing worms into biodegradable soil, you improve aeration and water retention and create an organic fertilizer.

I "liked" byoearth on Facebook, so I can follow the organization. I also sent Ms. Rodriguez a "friend request" and a message asking her about her inspiration for starting this organization.

My favorite secret was talk to the people who have a problem and LISTEN to what they say. Most of us know how to solve a problem, the challenge is to find the most simple solution that works for everyone involved. In this respect, simple should mean no more than three goals that are achievable (based on resources available); transferable (easy to replicate) and time-specific (within a set timeframe).