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 269 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Need a Quran teacher? There's an AI for that

Aysha Khan

May 20, 2020 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

An AI app is potentially eliminating the need for Quran teachers by offering precise feedback to those who are learning to recite or memorize the holy book of Islam. Tarteel uses machine learning technology to enable speech recognition, allowing it to test users' knowledge of the Quran and to receive feedback on recitation without a teacher. The tool can identify mistakes and has a memorization mode, only revealing words as they are recited. Building such an accurate tool "requires a vast data set to train a deep neural network" so users who opt in are crowdsourcing the data set needed to power Tarteel.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Mask Project offers jobs to unemployed and masks to Arizona's hardest-hit communities

Jacob Wirtschafter

May 18, 2020 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

An interfaith partnership between religions institutions and communities in Arizona has helped provide mask-making jobs to those who have lost their sources of income during the coronavirus pandemic. Participants include many from Latino and Native American communities who have been particularly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The project is not only providing enough of an income for these community members to support their families, but it also is working to keep the local communities safe by distributing the masks to those who need them.

Read More
Go to Original Story
New York City Muslims work to build food security during Ramadan

Aysha Khan

April 28, 2020 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The coronavirus pandemic has caused mass shutdowns of businesses and organizations around the world, and in New York City that includes mosques which typically offer nightly "communal iftar meals" during Ramadan. Knowing that many in the city rely on those free meals, New York City Muslims have begun collaborating and creating mutual aid programs. One such effort includes distributing gift cards from Arab, South Asian and Muslim-owned businesses, which helps both the individual and community.

Read More
Go to Original Story
During Ramadan in isolation, Muslims get creative to preserve community

Aysha Khan

April 23, 2020 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

As the Ramadan season begins, Muslim communities around the world are making adjustments to how they observe it in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Minneapolis, the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is broadcasting the call to prayer by speaker and in the U.K., the National Huffadh Association has created an online toolkit on how to pray at home. With connection and community a key part of Ramadan, a Reddit thread has started, connecting people for a Secret Santa-style Eid gift exchange, and a Minneapolis programmer has started an online service matching people in time zones to break fast together.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Halal donations start for Muslim medical front-liners

Jhesset Enano

April 20, 2020 |

Philippine Daily Inquirer |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Philippines, Manila

Alzaky Foods is providing free halal meals to Muslim medical workers in metro Manila. Many Muslim frontline workers were surviving on fast food, crackers, or chips since food donations were not halal. Alzaky has provided more than 2,400 halal meals to over 60 government and private hospitals across the city. The company provides some of the funding in combination with external donations. Identifying Muslim medical workers is a challenge. So far they have identified 200 doctors, nurses, and other medical staff, which they believe is only about 20-30% of the actual number.

Read More
Go to Original Story
One church's tale of two pandemics, 100 years apart

Megan Botel Isaiah Murtaugh

April 15, 2020 |

The GroundTruth Project |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

The quarantines and shelter-in-place orders that many cities in the United States are enacting today to combat the coronavirus pandemic can be compared to similar tactics taken in 1918 to stop the spread of influenza pandemic. However, with modern-day technology, churches in particular are finding that they are better able to safely reach their members through the use of video conferencing rather than door-to-door visits. For a Los Angeles church, this is part of a comprehensive approach that aims to abide by social distancing requirements while still helping those in need.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Local Church Doubles Attendance Without Seating a Single Person

Amanda Regan

April 15, 2020 |

Grady Newsource |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Watkinsville, Georgia

Watkinsville First Baptist Church in Georgia moved their religious services online as early as March 15th, 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the church began posting their services every Sunday morning, they have seen their attendance nearly double compared to in-person attendance. They also interact with the congregation through their Facebook page, website, and email. They plan on continuing to post their services online even after the quarantine ends, because they're expecting things to continue to be different after the pandemic.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Sikhs turn to online Vaisakhi

Simrin Singh

April 13, 2020 |

Religion News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Because of Covid-19, Sikh leaders in Southern California organized online celebrations of Vaisakhi, one of the most important days of the year for Sikhs. Raagis, people performing hymns, will be broadcast using a variety of live stream and digital platforms and social “gatherings” will be held on social media. Some are also delivering food and financial support to community members who are struggling. Despite issues with sound quality and a lack of financial resources to invest, bringing the community together for the celebrations is a priority to combat social isolation during the pandemic.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In life's last moments, U.S. clergy minister to the sick and dying via FaceTime and Zoom

Julie Zauzmer

April 02, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

As more individuals are hospitalized and in critical condition from COVID19, religious leaders are finding unique ways to connect. While the norm may be to be at bedsides, in this unprecedented time where that isn’t possible, chaplains, rabbis, and priests are using FaceTime and texting to connect with members of their communities and offer prayer and blessings.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The law of generosity combatting coronavirus in Pakistan

Aysha Imtiaz

April 01, 2020 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Pakistan, Karachi

In Pakistan, where many citizens earn a daily wage from street businesses that have now been forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistanis are continuing to contribute zakat, "the traditional Muslim charity tax." The contributions – regarded as "one of the most important religious duties for Muslims" – are used to create packages containing basic grocery items and anti-bacterial soap for the daily-wage workers.

Read More
Go to Original Story