Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 2468 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

In Myanmar's slums, women pool savings to get relief from crushing loans

Connor MacDonald

March 30, 2017 |

Citiscope |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Myanmar, Yangon, Yangon Region

Years of misrule and a subsequent dearth of hard currency, along with crippling bank-fostered debt cycles and exorbitant home mortgage interest rates, have created immense suffering for Myanmar's poor. But with the guidance of a local NGO, Women for the World, a pilot project helped women in some of Yangon's poorest neighborhoods capitalize on their cultural "head-of-household" status. It helped them form and manage community savings cooperatives, secure land, build homes, buy food, and even generate profit through loans to families' business enterprises.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Indigenous peoples in Colombia play crucial role in the fight against climate change

Bart Crezee

March 30, 2017 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Colombia

Protecting forests against deforestation is key to reducing CO2 emissions, which is what the UN mechanism- REDD+ aims to do by creating contracts with rural areas for them to protect their area's forest for 30 years in exchange for compensation. So far several problems have arisen that question the effectiveness of this mechanism which need attention going forward.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Utah Keeps the American Dream Alive

Megan McArdle

March 28, 2017 |

Bloomberg |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

In many parts of the United States, people struggle with economic mobility and achieving the American Dream. Salt Lake City’s rate of economic mobility is at the highest in the country. An investigative journalist explores the Mormon-influenced structure of charitable giving and various social factors that have created this socio-economic anomaly, and discovers that compassionate conservatism and some government welfare programs have contributed to the state being a unique case.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Renewables roadshow: how the 'nonna effect' got Darebin's pensioners signing up to solar

Michael Slezak

March 22, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia, Darebin, Victoria

Although solar installations have been on the rise, it's often those that could most benefit from this renewable energy source that can't access it. The Darebin City Council in Australia recognized this challenge faced by very low-income households, and began what is now known as the Solar Saver program. Although it initially began as a way to help these families cut electricity costs, it is now focused on making solar more accessible by providing no cost installations and a 10-year payment plan that ultimately helps the families cut costs.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A passive house takes an active stand for the environment

Emma Murray

March 22, 2017 |

Boulder Weekly |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

The heating and cooling of homes accounts for some of the greatest energy consumption in the United States, and contributes significantly to the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. A movement of "passive housing" is cropping up in response - the building of small, low-impact houses that are energy efficient and eco-conscious. One in Boulder, CO - built by an amateur architect - has received international certification and may serve as a model for future housing construction.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Beijing, Two Wheels Are Only a Smartphone Away

Didi Kirsten Tatlow

March 19, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: China, Beijing

As Beijing grapples with pollution caused in large part by the increase in cars on the roads, a tech-based solution has appeared in the form of forward-thinking bicycles. The Chinese bike-sharing system, spearheaded by several startups, allows commuters to find a bike using GPS, pay for it using an app, and drop it off upon arriving to their destination, wherever that may be. A mix of private investment and government support has allowed this market to thrive.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Jerusalem Jews and Arabs bond over backgammon

Abigail Klein Leichman

March 19, 2017 |

Israel21c |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Israel, Jerusalem

The Middle East has long been the site of conflict, but 'Jerusalem Double' is trying to ease tensions by having people from all backgrounds come together to play in backgammon tournaments. These tournaments have been very successful in sparking empathy, mentorship, discussion and bringing groups together.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How San Bernardino is learning from Oakland, Stockton to decrease deadly violence

Ryan Hagen

March 13, 2017 |

San Bernardino Sun |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Bernardino, California

The city of San Bernardino adopted a strategy in 2017 from Stockton and Oakland that helped reduce homicides and violence in those communities. The Ceasefire model eschews blanket approaches like curfews and gang injunctions to focus on the places and people mostly likely to experience violence and then target them with outreach by leaders in the community, churches and criminal justice arenas. The idea is to build relationships and use data strategically to prevent crime.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Reentry Think Tank wants returning citizens designing reentry services

Tony Abraham

March 09, 2017 |

Generocity |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Reentry Think Tank in Philadelphia brings a badly needed component to the world of services helping inmates reintegrate back into society: The experiences of actual former inmates. The nonprofit created fellowships for those coming back from prison and it has joined with the larger Philadelphia Reentry Coalition to make sure these voices are at the table with policy makers. They're working on a list of policy suggestions called the People's Bill of Rights in a model they want to see replicated across other social services.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The 'sun king' who built a solar city in China

Alvaro A. Ricciardelli

March 08, 2017 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: China, Dehzou, Shandong

Shandong Province in China is burdened with heavy air pollution due to being a hub of coal mining. To create a cleaner energy system, one man created a "city" entirely powered by solar energy, complete with a "solar museum" and "solar hotel". The buildings are designed to adopt solar panels into its structure, making the "city" not only beneficial to the environmental, but a one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece.

Read More
Go to Original Story