HBHM

Leveraging technology to preserve indigenous languages and heritage In celebration of International Mother Language Day, attention is drawn towards an inspiring initiative in the Cauca region of southwest Colombia aimed at preserving the Nasa Yuwe language. Juan Pablo Camayo and his team have established Jxa'h Wejxia Casil — or "Wind’s Net" — a communications network that provides Internet access to remote rural communities. This project, initially supported by the UNDP and the UNVMC, makes it possible for about 200 families to access the Internet for less than $10 a month, thereby facilitating the preservation and dissemination of the Nasa Yuwe language. The initiative has already produced original content in Nasa Yuwe, including a live broadcast discussing thousand-year-old indigenous recipes and a video on traditional medicine and plants titled "Wetwet Fxihncenxia." This is particularly crucial at a time when the use of Nasa Yuwe is declining among children and adolescents due to the dominant presence of Spanish in media and the decreasing time spent with elders, thereby threatening the intergenerational transmission of the language. With 65 indigenous languages in Colombia and nearly one-third at a critical risk of disappearing, efforts like these are vital. Edinson Camayo highlights the dire state of language diversity in the Cauca region, pointing to other languages on the brink of extinction. By leveraging new technologies, Juan Pablo, Edinson, and their collaborators aim to combat this trend and ensure the preservation of their culture and language, contributing also to peacebuilding efforts in the region. Reference Link https://lnkd.in/eB5qUqvz #health #healthybodyhealthymind #homelessness #canada #hbhm

Volunteer Want to make a real difference in your community? Volunteering is a powerful way to alleviate poverty and create lasting change across Canada. By lending your time and talents, you can directly impact the lives of those in need and contribute to a brighter future for all. Join us in building stronger, more supportive communities. https://hbhm.org

Ending poverty starts with empowering people. Mazhar Choudhry, Chairman HBHM

Achieving Cooperative Community Equitable Solar Sources The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has taken an innovative step with its Achieving Cooperative Community Equitable Solar Sources (ACCESS) project, aiming to make solar energy more affordable and accessible, especially for low-and moderate-income (LMI) communities. Understanding the challenge of cost, the project focuses on exploring sustainable, cost-effective energy access programs to benefit LMI consumers within co-operative communities. Key Achievements and Tools: Among its various strategies, ACCESS has introduced several key tools and resources aiming at bolstering solar energy's reach: Introduction and analysis of gaps in current solar access, alongside Quick Start Guides for LMI Community Solar Programs. A comprehensive report from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) on the valuation of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and a business case pricing tool tailored for LMI community solar programs. In-depth guidance on community outreach and the evaluation of existing financing mechanisms for low to moderate-income solar PV programs. Insights into leveraging federal assistance funds for affordable solar energy provision and pairing photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage for enhanced benefits. Case Studies & Research Collaborations: The project's effectiveness is showcased through various case studies highlighting cooperative efforts across the United States, including electricity co-ops like Anza Electric Cooperative, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, and Roanoke Electric Cooperative. These cases emphasize initiatives from supporting local education and energy independence to leveraging land for economic empowerment through solar power. How ACCESS Works? ACCESS ventured into researching a blend of financial models and program designs, including six program designs and three financing mechanisms, highlighting engagement strategies for effective solar program participation among LMI consumers. Small utilities have discovered varied solutions in solar applications, integrating technologies like battery storage, and forging philanthropic partnerships. Industry Support and Field Testing: Steered by a dedicated team from NRECA, alongside key partners including financial institutions CFC and CoBank, nonprofit GRID Alternatives, and PNNL, the project has broadened its impact through rigorous field testing and stakeholder engagement. This collective effort underscores the project's commitment to providing actionable, scalable solar access solutions to the wider utility industry, specifically focusing on LMI consumers. The ACCESS project aligns with NRECA’s Advancing Energy Access for All initiative, shining a light on the cooperative's role in fostering community well... #health #healthybodyhealthymind #homelessness #canada #hbhm

Blockchain in Charity: A New Era of Transparency in Donations and Aid In the evolving landscape of philanthropy, blockchain technology emerges as a powerful tool to address longstanding challenges of transparency and accountability in charitable giving. As the foundation for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain offers a decentralized, immutable ledger that ensures the traceability of donations from the donor to the final beneficiary. This innovative approach promises to rebuild trust in the nonprofit sector, plagued by concerns over the effective use of contributions and the actual reach of aid. The integration of blockchain into charitable organizations brings several transformative benefits: Immutable Records: The permanence of blockchain transactions eliminates the possibility of alteration or deletion, providing a transparent history of donations. Real-time Tracking: Donors can directly see how and when their contributions are used, fostering trust and engagement. Reduced Intermediaries: Facilitating peer-to-peer transactions reduces administrative costs, ensuring a higher percentage of donations directly support those in need. Smart Contracts: These automated contracts release funds only when certain conditions are met, enhancing accountability and ensuring that donations achieve their intended impact. Notable initiatives already leveraging blockchain to reshape charity operations include the World Food Programme’s Building Blocks, reducing transaction fees and increasing aid transparency for Syrian refugees in Jordan; BitGive’s GiveTrack, offering real-time donation tracking; AIDChain, simplifying cryptocurrency donations for charities; and Alice, a platform ensuring funds are released to charities only upon achieving specific goals. However, the adoption of blockchain in the charity sector faces challenges, including overcoming technical and regulatory barriers, fostering understanding and adoption among donors and beneficiaries, and achieving scalability. Despite these hurdles, the potential of blockchain to instill a greater level of trust and efficiency in charitable giving is immense, signaling a new era for global philanthropy. This emerging convergence of blockchain technology with charitable operations heralds a future where donations are more transparent, efficient, and impactful, ultimately fostering a deeper trust between donors and the nonprofit sector. Reference Link https://lnkd.in/eRxQsPSy #health #healthybodyhealthymind #homelessness #canada #hbhm

How digital solutions for the integration of refugees persist long-term Abstract: The paper examines the critical role digital solutions play in aiding the integration of refugees, a pressing need underscored by the significant reliance of refugees on digital technologies, especially following the refugee influx in Europe in 2015. Despite the proliferation of digital aids for refugees, few have stood the test of time. The study zeroes in on the Integreat platform, founded in Germany in 2015, which has not only endured but also continued to grow. Employing actor-network theory's translation process lens, the research traces the stages of problematization, interessement, enrolment, and mobilization that the Integreat platform went through to achieve lasting success. The investigation reveals that Integreat's longevity can be attributed to the formation of a robust network comprising the core team, a developer community, and municipalities, united by a shared vision of social good and facilitated by the platform's architecture. This synergy of social mission and technical foundation has been pivotal in fostering and sustaining the platform's objectives. The findings significantly contribute to understanding the sustainability of non-profit initiatives aimed at refugee integration, highlighting the indispensable roles of collective social motivation and strategic platform design. Recommended Citation: Usachova, O., Schreieck, M., Passoth, J.-H., & Krcmar, H. (2022). How digital solutions for the integration of refugees persist long-term: The interplay of a social cause and platform architecture. In GlobDev 2022. Reference Link https://lnkd.in/e4tiX-xG #health #healthybodyhealthymind #homelessness #canada #hbhm

Poverty should never define a person’s future. Mazhar Choudhry, Chairman HBHM