This parody video calls on Africans to save frostbitten Norwegians... by donating radiators. Made by The Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund, it highlights how exploitative "poverty porn" can be. As the Africa for Norway website asks, "What if every person in Africa saw this video, and it was the only information they ever got about Norway, what would they think?"
AFGHANISTAN: The Mine Kafon
As a child, Massoud Hassani played on desert playgrounds where it was not infrequent for his toys to be destroyed by exploding land mines. Twenty years later, he has created the ultimate live-saving toy—a wind-powered structure made from bamboo and biodegradable plastics, the "Mine Kafon" intentionally detonates unexploded ordnance. Landmine clearance typically costs $1200 per mine, and his device can clear one for $50. This film is a finalist in the $200,000 FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Competition.
How Do You Define "Global Citizen?"
Being a global citizen means starting to think of ourselves as a global community, when it comes to things like poverty, clean water, education, etc. Imagine every child on the planet being born with the same rights to life. The nonprofit organization GLOBAL CITIZEN makes progress on these topics easier… check out their website where you can connect, and win points and badges for taking actions. GLOBAL CITIZEN is powered by the Global Poverty Project.
CONNECT WITH GLOBAL CITIZEN
CHINA: The Longest Way
"I walked through China—one year—more than 4500km. All the while, I let my hair and beard grow. This is the resulting video. I never finished my original goal of walking to Germany. Instead, I walked for a year and roughly 4500km, passed the Gobi desert, and then decided to stop walking for now. All of the distance from Beijing to Ürümqi was completed solely on foot, straight good old walking. There are instances where you can see me in the video sitting on a plane or riding a boat, but those are during breaks I had to take from walking, either to sort out bureaucracy issues or to take care of some personal things. I had been planning this trip for over a year before I even started, and getting as far as I got was an experience for which I am very grateful." — Christophe Rehage
FIND OUT MORE AT THE LONGEST WAY
Watch Merit, A Clothing Company Helping Kids Go To College
Every 26 seconds in the United States a student drops out of high school. Merit is a clothing company who cares about changing that. Education is their cause, and 20% of all their revenues are dedicated to helping disadvantaged kids get to college. Read more about Merit through David Merrit, the founder's blog here.
Give Us The Money
From Live Aid to Make Poverty History, celebrities have become activists against poverty. Bob Geldof and Bono have been prominent voices advocating on behalf of the poor. But have their concerts and campaigns really lifted millions out of poverty? In this documentary from Why Poverty? Geldof, Bono and Bill Gates speak candidly about how to lobby effectively and how to play to politicians' weaknesses for glitz and popularity.
WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY HERE
VIDEO: Girl Skaters in Kabul
Curious about what's going on in skateboarding classes for girls in Kabul? Watch this. Skateistan is a Kabul-based NGO that has been encouraging youth through skateboarding and education since 2007. Since then, it has grown from a handful of students to more than 400 per week. More than 40% are girls, which is more than any other coed sport in Afghanistan. Go girls!
American Thoughts On Foreign Aid: A Documentary By ONE
ONE explores what American perceptions of US Foreign Aid are... and then shines some light on the reality.
Join ONE by taking action to support the world's most vulnerable here
Check Out The Only Record Store In Mauritania
Thomas Morton and Noisey Music World, VICE happened to be in Nouakchott, Mauritania and took a visit to the only record store in the country, Saphir D'or.
CONNECT WITH NOISEY, VICE'S MUSIC CHANNEL
Joel Runyon Runs For the Impossible Challenge
Challenge your concept of impossible. Meet Joel Runyon, he did. Laid off from his part-time UPS job and fed up with living in his parents basement, Joel decided to "start living a life worth writing about." Last summer, Joel joined Pencils of Promise's program The Impossible Ones. He took on a challenge that previously seemed impossible, to run an Ultra Marathon, 50k in one day, and raise $25,000 to build a Pencils for Promise school. Joel will run this weekend in Chicago.
Love and Rubbish: Documentary on Child Poverty In Russia
If you live in poverty, can you afford to dream? An estimated five million people are homeless in Russia; one million of them are children. This WHY POVERTY film takes a look at the lives of a group of children living on a rubbish dump outside of Moscow, showing the hardships they face and the dreams they hold on to.
AFGHANISTAN: Breaking the Rules By Bike
Afghanistan is one of the few countries in the world where women are not allowed to ride bicycles. How did Shannon Galpin become the first to do it? Watch as she mountain bikes across the Panjshir Valley, a mountainous region in northeastern Afghanistan.
LEARN MORE AT Mountain2Mountain
Otelo Burning (2011): Surfers In South Africa Battling Tides
Somewhere between City of God and Blue Crush, Otelo Burning is a coming of age story in South Africa set against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. It's an emotional story of kids in the township learning to surf. It's a story of the explosive potential for change at the time of apartheid's end.
NICARAGUA: Surfing for Change Travel Guide
The mission of Surfing for Change is to spread awareness that tourism, and surf travel, can bring dollars and along with it a lot of destruction to surf destinations in the developing world. Their vision is that there is a better way. Here, watch Nicaragua's Wave of Optimism (WOO) implementing a new model for surf tourism, and Courney Hull, social entrepreneur, building the world's first plastic-free hotel.
CONNECT WITH SURFING FOR CHANGE
The Clock Is Ticking For Girls Stuck In Poverty
Very important: A Must Watch.
CONNECT WITH THE GIRL EFFECT
God Loves Uganda (2013) Documentary
How much influence do American evangelical Christians have on the anti-homosexuality bill and politics in Uganda? Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams talks about this topic and his new documentary film, Gold Loves Uganda, just premiered at Sundance 2013.
CONNECT WITH GOD LOVES UGANDA
Cambodian Orphanage Shows Effects of Voluntourism
We all start with the best intentions, and want to make a positive difference in the world when we travel. But when orphanages become volunteer tourism destinations, they create incentives to direct children with living parents away from their homes, 3 out of 4 Cambodian "orphans" have a living parent. Studies show family-based care is a far better solution for these kids.
CONNECT WITH ORPHANAGES NOT THE SOLUTION
GoPro Surfer Shares Surf Volunteer Experience In Peru
A WAVES for Development volunteer shares the GoPro view on his surf volunteer experience. Waves for Development creates life enriching experiences in coastal communities through educational surf programs. Check out their volunteer opportunities in Lobitos, Peru.
CONNECT WITH WAVES FOR DEVELOPMENT
Our Daughters For Sale Documentary (2012): Sex Trafficking In Thailand
High in the hills of Thailand are villages where selling children for profit—not for survival—is commonplace. While the government would prefer to say that no such problem exists—one organization stands in their way. The Children's Organization of Southeast Asia (COSA) is working on a new method to stem the tide of child sex trafficking in northern Thailand. While most other organizations 'rescue' children who have already been sold and been victimized. In villages where satellite dishes and other amenities have taken the place of sold children, COSA is working to educate villagers on the benefits of not selling children—they are working on an individual basis to solve the problem for each child before it happens.
CONNECT WITH COSA
Explore Laos
In the third episode of his series “In Asia,” German traveler and director Vincent Urban transports his viewers to Laos. We travel with him to Luang Prabang, a city in Northern Laos that is home to abundant Buddhist monasteries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our next stop is Phone Savan, capital of the Xiengkhouang province, where Urban captures the daily lives of people who work the fields and bring their produce to market. In Vang Vieng, we are introduced to the region’s aquamarine freshwater lagoons and waterfalls. Vincent finishes his trip by exploring Vientiane, the lively capital of Laos, on bike and by visiting Don Khong, an island in Southern Laos, where he engages in various outdoor activities, including playing soccer with the local children. He concludes the video by teasing his next stop: Cambodia.