Ever asked yourself what could you do to make this planet a better place?
Maybe.
And you probably get quickly discouraged because »one person alone can not change the world«.
But you are wrong.

There are individuals on this planet who do more than just minimal changes.
Nooooo, we are not talking about superman or batman or other superheroes.
We are talking about »the changemakers«.

So who are they?

Let's start in PERU:

Ever heard of Albina Ruiz? Probably not.
She wasn't the first to climb up the highest mountain or sell the most records...
All she did in the past 20 years was to encourage and enable local people of suburbian Lima to start solving the city's notorious waste disposal problem which caused many illnesses among the poorest inhabitants.

Idea
With a little help from Albina a network of micro enterprises, run by the locals, emerged in Lima. They are gathering paper, plastic bottles and other recyclable waste, which they sell to recycling centers or take it to the dump.

Result
Now local people are helping to keep the streets clean and at the same time they get payed for it. lllnesses decreased and more new work places are being opened. The idea also spreaded around to other cities in Peru.

And it only took one person to start this.

Let's travel to the other side of the world - INDIA:

Ever had a football? Chances are that it was made in India, by someone as old as you or even younger. Millions of children (5 - 17 years old) in the world are exploited to make products like footballs, fireworks, briks, rugs... And many of these products end up in our shops.
In India around 200.000 children are working in the handmade carpet industry, working 12 hours per day for small change or even just for some food. They are not working voluntarily.

Idea
Kailash Satyarthi is this one person who decided to do something about it. He dedicated his life to close the factories who exploit child labour for profit (it is less expensive than adult labor).

Result
Since 1981 Kailash saved thousands of children from modern time slavery. He offers them shelter and well needed education so they can have a better future. He also created the Rugmark Foundation to certify carpets which are guaranteed that they are not a product of child labour.

And all this and more has been done thanks to one person.

There are many »changemakers« all around the world making a difference.

But what can you do?

Well, you could follow Divine and his friends,

who created TEAM REVOLUTION, a youth center that provides recreation and other opportunities for teens in Brooklyn (USA).

Or you could do like Jesus (Mexica) and Juan Carlos (Smiley) who decided to start RAPEM (Rap Pandillero Estilo Mexicano) - a school for rap, giving young Mexicans a safe, non-violent place to share their experiences and hoping of bringing together gang urban youth.

There’s lots of things you can do to improve the world … even in your town and community.

Imagine it. Than make it happen.

Wanna know more? Don't know how to start? Here are some links that can help you:

www.ashoka.org/examplesyouthventureers
www.youthventure.org
www.changemakers.com
www.ashoka.org/fellows
www.globalgiving.com/cb/newheroes
www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes