Light years away from the world of glitz and reality TV, this social nurse and her daughter decided to draw public attention to the homeless who had been in their care for 20 years. They created a competition that goes well beyond the selection of Homeless Man of the Year.
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I make soap from used cooking oil
Francisco was tired of seeing Rio’s coast sullied by the vast amounts of waste oil that were being poured down sinks and drains. He dreamt of putting an end to this destructive habit, but he never envisioned that the Eco-friendly solution he developed would enable him to become a successful entrepreneur, held up as a model for the rest of the country.
Our students pump fresh water on the playground
In South Africa, Trevor has installed ‘Play Pump’ merry-go-rounds in schools to enable students to pump clean drinking water as they play. Who says hard work can’t be fun?
I use bamboo like others use iron
‘Always higher, always more beautiful’ could be the motto of this architect, who has become an eco-star with his monumental works in bamboo. His secret? A simple process he developed to make bamboo as strong as iron. In the clash of the Titans, vegetable matter hasn’t given up the fight yet! Stay tuned…
Our ‘hives’ give you access to farm-fresh products for less
When Guilhem, a healthy food promoter, met Marc David, an advocate for new technologies, the happy result was La ruche qui dit oui! (The Hive that says, ‘Yes!’), a new, high-tech distribution network for local farm products that’s causing plenty of buzz.
I keep women off the streets by training them to be mechanics
Sandra wants to put an end to the false promise of work in Europe that lures many Nigerian women into the hell of prostitution. Her tactic? She’s created a series of car repair shops in Nigeria run by women where women can train to become “Lady Mechanics”. The program proves in a striking way that the country holds the keys to its own economic prosperity.
I fill up my tank with what you throw away
As surprising as it sounds, gasoline can be made from almost any of the garbage that ends up in landfills. Esteban is the first in the world to tap into this resource on a large-scale, and he has struck gold.
I use plants to clean toxic soil
Who would have thought that plants could cleanse up to 99% of toxic content from the soil AND remain healthy? After 10 years of research, Thierry found an economically and ecologically sound way to decontaminate toxic soil using specially selected plants. China and Brazil are already making use of this breakthrough technology–who will be next?
I created the first green energy network
Can green energy be produced and distributed on a grand scale to meet the energy needs of an entire population? This stay-at-home mother proved it can and looks ready to conquer the world. Contagious.
I transform milk bottles into designer lighting
Heath never dreamed that one day his idea for recycling waste plastics, in this case the used milk bottles that are polluting South Africa, would become a source of inspiration for some of the hottest lighting designers in northern Europe.