Laurie Thompson

The Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition combed through a record-breaking 530 entries from 61 countries and chose 15 finalists who represent the best of the best. Check out the finalists and vote for your favorite here.

Starbucks and (RED) today announced a multi-year partnership that will give coffee lovers a chance to do good every day.

Throughout the holiday season, Starbucks will contribute five cents from the sale of any of (Starbucks) RED Exclusive beverage (the three beverages that make up the Starbucks popular holiday trio) at all of their US and Canadian stores to the Global Fund to invest in AIDS programs in Africa.

“(RED) is making remarkable progress in the worldwide effort to address AIDS in Africa,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and CEO. “We have a deep partnership with coffee growing regions in Africa. We are proud to partner with our customers to contribute toward an AIDS-free Africa.”

Schultz joined Bono, co-founder of (RED), for today’s announcement in front of 10,000 Starbucks partners (employees) at the company’s 2008 Leadership Conference in New Orleans.

“(RED) is coming to a corner near you thanks to Starbucks. I’m very excited to be able to say that,” said Bono, co-founder of (RED). “The business of Starbucks with roots in Africa and branches all over the world is an ideal fit for (RED). It’s pretty mind-blowing to think that millions of people can buy (RED) going about their daily lives and in doing so raise millions of dollars to fight AIDS in Africa. That’s not a bad hit from your caffeine.”

(Starbucks) RED Exclusive Holiday beverages go on sale November 27, 2008 and continue through January 2, 2009.

According to a recent press release:

Borrowing private sector techniques, Do Something is issuing an IPO that promises significant Social Return on Investment (SROI). The growth capital investment will foster exponential growth and bolster the organization’s self-sustaining programming.

OK, this is cool, but really just an interesting way to put out a call to donors and raise funds. Will it work?

Ashoka’s Youth Venture and Changemakers is partnering with Staples to launch their first global competition to recognize young leaders who are finding new ways to create positive change in their communities. They are seeking the most inspirational ideas and projects led by young people between ages 12 and 24. Spread the word about this initiative and nominate young leaders with fantastic ideas! Now through October 15, 2008. Winners will be announced November 12, 2008.

http://www.changemakers.net/competition/staplesyv/

Here’s some encouraging news. The Measles Initiative partnership recently announced that worldwide measles deaths fell 60% from 1999 to 2005, from 873,000 down to 345,000 deaths per year. That’s 528,000 lives saved every year.

“One of the clearest messages from this achievement is that with the right strategies and a strong partnership of committed governments and organizations, you can rapidly reduce child deaths in developing countries,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We’ve seen that it can be done. What’s next?

Doctors Without Borders recently released a list of the 10 most under-reported humanitarian crises of 2006, which they say “accounted for just 7.2 minutes of the 14,512 minutes on the three major U.S. television networks’ nightly newscasts for 2006.”

1. Central African Republic
2. Tuberculosis
3. Chechnya
4. Sri Lanka
5. Malnutrition
6. Democratic Republic of Congo
7. Somalia
8. Columbia
9. Haiti
10. Central India

On May 14th, the UN sought to remind people that the Congo remains world’s deadliest catastrophe. The problem is, who in the world even knows that 1,200 people are dying there every day, or that three months ago the United Nations launched an appeal for $682 million to provide the needed water, food, medical assistance, shelter and protection? Yes, we’re all distracted. Yes, there are other crises to tend to in Africa and elsewhere around the world. But let’s face it, there are countries in the world who can, and should, step up. The people of the Congo have suffered long enough.

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was born in Ghana without the tibia in his right leg, leaving it deformed and useless. His father abandoned him. His mother was told to kill him. That is just what it means to be disabled in Ghana.

Fortunately, his mother was strong, and raised Yeboah to have high expectations for himself, even if nobody else did. In 2002, at the age of 25, he rode a donated bicycle 360 miles across Ghana – with one leg – and showed his entire country that the disabled could be very able indeed. His story became a movie that continues to inspire.

When I heard Emmanuel’s story, I too was inspired by his incredible triumph. I was enraged by the plight of the disabled in Ghana. But even more, I wondered what causes all those disabilities in the first place? Could they be prevented, and if so, what effects would that have on Ghanaian society?

The March of Dimes Global Report on Birth Defects might offer some answers, and will hopefully spark some positive change. According to a March of Dimes press release about the report:

“…it is a common misconception that attention to birth defects will draw funding from other priority public health efforts — when, in fact, increased efforts to reduce birth defects in children contributes to the health of the entire population.

Experience from high-income countries shows that overall mortality and disability from birth defects could be reduced by up to 70 percent if the recommendations in this report were broadly implemented…

Among the interventions that would have immediate impact are:

1. folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects;
2. iodination of salt to prevent severe congenital hypothyroidism; and
3. rubella immunization to prevent congenital rubella syndrome.”

I think it’s a great place to start. If you agree, go to http://www.marchofdimes.com/howtohelp/howtohelp.asp.

If you ever find yourself searching for inspiration about the feasibility of attempting to change the world, then you must read Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder. It is about the efforts of Dr. Farmer to bring health care to the poorest of the poor, mostly in Haiti, through his organization Partners in Health. While he focuses on the needs of his individual patients, Dr. Farmer has achieved and continues to work for true global change. Tracy Kidder shows that Dr. Farmer is an extraordinary human being, but is nonetheless extraordinarily human.