From time to time, I seek out stories that inspire me and challenge me to think creatively about our work. I love learning about the work that other folks are doing out there. So, here is some good news for you!
If you know me, you know how passionate I am about the need for young people to have accurate sexual health education (and resources and access to care and contraception and and and!!!). I love it even more when young people are active participants in their own learning and design of their education.
Good News from Tanzania
So, it will come as NO surprise that I love this story! Young artists in Temeke District in Tanzania are designing katangas (the colorful wraps that are worn in much of Africa) to promote gender equality and to share reproductive health messaging. The organizers trained 75 young people who then created their own designs.
Good News from Spain
In a similar light, children can be given tools to help improve even the most desperate of situations.In Spain, an outdoor campaign has gone on for a few years now. The ingenuity of it is that adults and children see the ad differently due to lenticular printing. Adults see an image of a child with an awareness-based message: “Sometimes child abuse is only visible to the child suffering it”. Children, or anyone under 4’3″ sees the same child but with facial bruising and an offer of help that says “If somebody hurts you, phone us and we’ll help you.” I found some data that the ads in combination with other activities that calls to their help line did increase. I’d be curious to see that data teased out to see just how many calls were driven by the street ads.
Good News from Cameroon:
Next up–a good story out of Cameroon! Tim Immaculate Bih is the first women to be an engineer in Cameroon! As an engineer, she now seeks to consider the unique needs of women and girls as she builds buildings. She is also hiring women and seeking to improve education in engineering for girls. Amazing all around!
Good News from Vanuatu:
And, finally, a story about food sovereignty. Cities, towns, and countries, and the Navajo Nation that defeat big business, tax soda and junk food amaze me. Well, Torba, a group of islands that comprise Vanuatu, a South Pacific country, is now banning all Western junk food! Beyond that, they are hoping to be the first all-organic island by 2020. Incredible. This may prompt me to add Vanuatu to my travel list! Read more about food swamps here!