Posts Tagged charity

Innate Human Ability saves Africa

Well, maybe not all of Africa quite yet but it is on its way.  A man named William Kamkwamba discovered an interest in science that led him to build windmills for his family, providing them with electricity and irrigation.  The best part is he basically did it with no more than a few books and magazines to guide him!  He’d never even seen an airplane and he was able to figure out a formula to save his family and take the first step out of poverty for his family.

What I like best is the demonstration of the innate ability of humanity.  Each person, no matter their circumstance has an ability to innovate and improve life.  That is why I encourage any “charity” work to be centered on EMPOWERMENT and not simply giving alone.  We don’t give those we help enough credit for their own undiscovered abilities!  Check out the video below from TED where William shares a bit of his story:

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The Entrepreneur triumphs at delivering safe drinking water to all

A recent video on TED.com demonstrated the capability of a free-thinking concerned global citizen.  Michael Pritchard developed a water filtration system that can deliver safe drinking water no matter the conditions and due it in an extremely portable and remarkably affordable fashion.  He estimates that it would take no more than $20 billion to deliver clean drinking water to the entire world!  Now, there are other considerations such as political access to the end user in hostile territory, war lords and all that. But the concept and possibility are phenomenal!

He does mention the amounts spent by governments on foreign aid which I am not as big a fan of.  I say we pitch it to Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and other private foundations who are spending this kind of money in the open, charity market.  They will act much faster and with much more efficiency instead of turning a $20 billion project into a $100 billion with the added bureaucracy.  And the average tax payer need not be squeezed for the money but given the opportunity to openly volunteer in donation to the private charities participating.  All in all, I hope Mike makes money hand over fist, enabling him to continue to develop the technology, market the new solution and get the word out.  This of course will do wonders for anyone needing clean water when in a bind.  Cool stuff!

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