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When She Saw People Sleeping on the Dirt, She Delivered a Healthier Alternative

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Good News Network
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GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.

In Rwanda, nearly 80% of the population live in mud huts with dirt floors.

A 2013 business school design class at Stanford sent Gayatri Datar to Rwanda on a mission to improve health outcomes in the developing world.

While staying at local homes, cooking with residents and taking care of their children, Gayatri was struck by the challenges presented by dirt floors, as they were breading grounds for pathogens, parasites and bacteria. The floors caused many people to fall ill with infectious diseases and respiratory illness – not to mention, they were extremely uncomfortable.

Replacing dirt floors with concrete has been shown to drastically reduce the risk of sickness and infestations, but the high cost of materials and distribution challenges leave Rwandans at a loss.

WATCH: Guy Transforms Man He Thought Was Online Scammer into Village Saint by Sending Him $30 Camera

Determined to find a solution, Gayatri returned to Stanford and created EarthEnable.

The company sells and installs earthen floors across Rwanda. A niche design trend in the US, earthen floors are made from compacted earth-based materials that are locally sourced and sealed with a layer of proprietary oil. Unlike concrete, these floors are environmentally sustainable, impermeable, sleek, easy to clean, and 10% the price of concrete.

EarthEnable also hires and trains underemployed local masons in Rwanda, providing job opportunities for those who need consistent employment and income.

CHECK OUT: Teen Invents Rain, Fire-proof Sleeping Bag for Homeless, and Offers Jobs

“There are dirt floors all over the world causing people to get sick, so we see this as a way to address a major health concern while also providing economic stimulation to local communities”, Gayatri explains.

Gayatri has been passionate about making a difference long before this venture. While visiting relatives in India at 19-years-old, a tsunami struck countries bordering the Indian Ocean, killing thousands. She became interested in the work of relief agencies and sought ways to help. Surprised at how readily her skills made a profound impact on the ground, she was inspired to dedicate her life to helping others.

Prior to founding EarthEnable, Gayatri served as a Senior Consultant at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, where she focused on social entrepreneurship, energy access and agriculture. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard College, a Master’s in Public Administration in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Scholar.

WATCH: Man Builds Tiny House for Homeless Woman Sleeping in the Dirt

She had the opportunity to take several leaves of absences during her college years, volunteering with NGOs and nonprofits in India, Namibia, Nicaragua, Albania, and right here in the United States.

As the saying goes, one must “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes”. Gayatri Datar walked many dirt floors to understand first-hand the way in which Rwandans live – and now, she is creating a better world for the country’s local communities one floor at a time.

Through its Fellowship program launched in 2012, The Global Good Fund invests in high potential leaders committed to social impact worldwide. It also created the 360 MIRROR – the first evidence-based leadership assessment for social entrepreneurs and CEOs.

Don’t Walk Away! Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends

How Barbara Bush Was a Pillar of Love and Devotion to Family (1925-2018)

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McKinley Corbley
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Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away earlier this week at the age of 92.

Over the course of her career, Barbara was an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and literary education; a formidable political advisor; and a dedicated wife and mother to 6 children and 17 grandchildren.

Barbara’s romance with George H. W. Bush is one for the history books. She first met the handsome young military man at a school dance when she was 16 years old. At the time, George was the youngster fighter pilot in the Navy. Despite WWII interrupting their relationship, the two got married in 1945.

The Bushes then gave birth to six children – one of whom died of leukemia, which Barbara later credited as the reason her red hair turned white.

RELATED: Bushes Pen Touching Letter to Obama Sisters – We’ll be Rooting For You

She remained a devoted wife to George throughout his 30-year career in politics. Before becoming Ronald Reagan’s vice president for two terms and going on to win the presidential election in 1988, George was a US representative for Texas, UN ambassador, Republican Party chairman, ambassador to China, and director of the CIA.

Then, despite her ongoing health problems, Barbara lobbied for her two sons, Jeb and George W. Bush, during their own presidential campaigns.

MORE: Obama Honors First President Bush as “Points of Light” Shine On

In addition to being diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 1988, she also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure – and still, she and George actively spent their time raising money for charity and staying busy with the public.

She eventually declined treatment for her illnesses which led to her passing at the Bush home in Austin, Texas. According to a statement from the family office, George was holding her hand the entire time – much like how they reportedly held hands every night of their 72-year marriage before going to bed.

(WATCH the video tribute below)

Pass On The Touching Tribute To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by CBS News

These Factories Hire Storytellers to Read to Workers So They Can be Educated—and Entertained

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Good News Network
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Everyone knows about the quality behind Cuban cigars – but what about the loving care that is shown to the factory workers as well?

During the mid-19th century, the owners of a tobacco factory in Havana delegated one of their workers to spend their shift reading to the employees who were rolling the cigars.

Not only did it make work more enjoyable for the cigar rollers, but it also helped to build their education, which was generally not very strong.

The storytelling became such a popular practice, dozens of cigar factories across Cuba started hiring storytellers of their own.

RELATED: Instead of Firing Illiterate Employees, Company Teaches Them How to Read

One of the storyteller’s, Lucio C. Peña, told Great Big Story: “Generally when I finish a book, I run a sort of poll. Last time I ran a poll, they wanted an adventure novel. I suggested a few works and they chose “Last of the Mohicans”, which is what I’m reading now.

“I like my job – I think I serve a very important role, not only from a cultural point of view, but in problems with every day life. Through reading, we can find solutions…”

(WATCH the video below)

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Watch Butcher Politely Show Meat Samples to Feline Customer Before Giving it a Free Sample

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While some grocery stores may have a strict “no shirt; no shoes” policy, this supermarket in Turkey is a bit more lax about their customer’s attire – and their species.

In a video that was published by RM Videos earlier this week, an inquiring cat can be seen standing on its hind legs so it can get a good look at the deli meats.

WATCH: Police Identify Missing Husky By Seeing if it Sings Along With its Favorite Tune

Unfazed by his customer’s furry disposition, the butcher spends a full minute pointing out the different meat cuts to the cat.

When he finally settles on a treat that he thinks the feline will like, he cuts off a small piece and drops it into the cats waiting paws on the other end of the counter.

It’s probably pretty safe to say that the cat will be a regular customer from now on.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by RM Videos

On 4/20, Colorado Boasts Record-breaking Surplus Tax Revenue Used for Education, Homelessness

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McKinley Corbley
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The legalization of recreational marijuana has not just been a cause for celebration amongst Colorado stoners – it has also been a lifesaver for dozens of important state programs.

According to CNN, the state government has harvested over half a billion dollars in tax revenue and fees since retail marijuana stores started opening in January 2014. The majority of that income was used to finance programs that would benefit “Colorado’s most vulnerable citizens”.

In 2017, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a budget bill that legally instated the “Marijuana Tax Cash Fund”, which would finance school health programs; the creation of permanent housing for homeless and at-risk citizens; and treating individuals with substance abuse problems and mental health issues.

“We expect to reduce incarceration, hospitalization and homelessness for many of Colorado’s most vulnerable citizens,” says the bill.

MORE: Where Marijuana is Legal, Opioid Prescriptions Fall, Studies Find

Thanks to the massive amounts of surplus tax revenue from state marijuana sales in 2016, over $66 million was distributed to Colorado schools through a grant program for bully prevention before the fund was even created.

The bully prevention program provides a coach to teach and council alumni and students alike about the emotional dangers of bullying – this includes character building exercises, designation of disciplinary consequences for bullies, and how to reward those who report bullying behavior.

For four years, the program had languished without funding – until voters passed Proposition BB in 2015, which allowed the state of Colorado to keep additional marijuana tax revenues to distribute accordingly.

Don’t Leave Your Friends High And Dry: Click To Share – Photo by Dank Depot, CC

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” – Seneca (Roman philosopher, statesman, dramatist)

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” – Seneca (Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist)

Photo: by Benjamin Lehman, CC

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

What 300 Dirty Jobs Taught Mike Rowe About True Success and Happiness

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The Lesson: Why is it that the people who do the hardest jobs in America are oftentimes happier than those in more comfortable positions? After spending time with blue collar workers in over 300 different “dirty jobs”, Mike Rowe has learned a thing or two about happiness and fulfillment.

Notable Excerpt: “The idea and the big lesson that came from working with so many of those people [on Dirty Jobs] for so long was that by and large – as a group – they were happier than most of my friends; they were better balanced than most of my friends; and they had just the kind of peace that I think comes from knowing what I call the ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ test … where if you are somehow magically pulled out of existence, like right now, what happens to the world? What happens to the world of ‘poof, I’m gone’ and ‘Dirty Jobs’ never happened? Is the world gonna spin of its axis? No … [I tend to try and fundamentally measure the concept of] ‘what I can do that will ever change a thing?’ Dirty jobbers can. If all the plumbers call in sick for a week, the party’s over. All the electricians call out for two days? Riot. So you know, it’s odd that the jobs that we all depend on the most are the most under-appreciated in our society. So the people who do those jobs know this … and that makes them very fun to be around.”

The Guest: Mike Rowe is most well-known as the host of the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs”: a series dedicated to exploring the grimiest and toughest jobs of blue-collar America. In addition to getting his hands dirty, Rowe is an author, philanthropist, and Renaissance man who is keen on educating the average joe on how to find happiness and fulfillment – no matter what job or lifestyle they may have.

The Host: After spending years of his young life and athletic career struggling with his own emotional wellbeing, a crippling injury left Lewis Howes without an identity and without any work. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, however, Howes recreated himself as a multi-million dollar media producer, motivational speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host. The ex-football player now spends his days chatting with the most inspirational icons of this generation on his School of Greatness podcast.

Podcast: The School of Greatness podcast is available for download on Soundcloud and iTunes. You can also watch footage of the interviews on Howes’s YouTube channel.

Books: Howes is the author of the New York Times bestselling book “The School of Greatness”: an in-depth collection of lessons and wisdom that he has gathered from interviewing hundreds of the world’s greatest role models and thinkers. Howes’s latest book, “The Mask of Masculinity”, is based on his experience with the dangerous stereotypes and expectations that are placed on men in modern society.

(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below)

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Planning a Lovely Wedding? Now You Can Save a Family Farm at the Same Time

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Plan a wedding, save a farm
Sam McElhinney MBA ’17 found a way to help New England small farms, family estates, and orchards by creating a system that enables them to host events easily.
Written by Julie Barr
MIT News

Despite conservation efforts and a resurgence in local farming, New England is still losing about 100 agricultural acres to development every day. For many small farms, family estates, orchards, and other largely undeveloped properties, the cost of taxes and maintenance alone can make keeping their land too expensive.

Sam McElhinney, born and raised in Massachusetts and an avid lover of the outdoors, always wanted to find a way to conserve the open lands he so loved. It wasn’t until McElhinney, who was on the lumberjack team and president of the fishing club at Dartmouth College, reached his late 20s and he and many of his friends began planning their own weddings that the idea hit him.

“Traditional, professional event venues are built to more or less mass produce events,” says McElhinney. “I was away one weekend with friends at a farm and they were all talking about how generic weddings felt at these commercial event venues and I said why not just get married somewhere like this and create the entire thing to be the way you want?”

RELATED: Girl’s Lemonade Recipe to Saves Bees Turned Into Million Dollar Whole Foods Deal

Some couples do get married on a farm owned by a family member or friend — but unless you know someone willing to do this as a one-time favor, getting a stranger to transform an old estate into a wedding venue poses many problems. McElhinney saw the opportunity in solving those problems: If he figured out the logistics, he could give small farms a low-time impact but high-value solution to getting the money they need all while giving couples a unique, customizable space for their wedding. McElhinney started Mayflower Venues, which touts an automated, intelligent technology system that enables these non-traditional spaces to use modern systems and tools to host a small number of weddings a year.

“A number of the venues on our website had couples pulling up their driveway knocking on their barn door asking if they could have a wedding in their yard,” says McElhinney. “They always turned them away because they had no idea how to figure out insurance, what price to charge, how to tell them what caterers would need. With a full-time job as a farmer, they couldn’t handle it.”

So, Mayflower Venues is doing all that work for them. Since officially launching the company last fall, McElhinney and his team — and the platform — have hosted one event, gotten more than 40 venues on board, and booked dozens of events for 2018 and 2019.

CHECK OUT: Newlyweds Track Down Wedding Crashers Who Were Life of the Party

Mayflower’s role, says McElhinney, really becomes that of the venue coordinator. “We identify these spaces and digitize them. We built this entire proprietary on-boarding app by working with a variety of expert wedding planners, caterers, and vendors to figure out what are the inputs couples will need and we collect all that info and create a comprehensive set of wedding planning tools specific to each venue’s eccentricities. We know how many feet of hose a caterer would need to reach the potable water spout at a historic family estate, for example, and the platform presents that information to the couple and their vendor at the right time.”

McElhinney is focused on the unique, sustainable nature of the properties. “We only allow one wedding a weekend at each venue. We don’t want a wedding factory, we don’t want three weddings going into a small town in the Berkshires in 72 hours; but we do want one wedding going into a small town in the Berkshires because that’s great revenue, for catering and accommodations. We’re really excited about bringing this millennial revenue into rural America and that is a very sustainable action.”

Reprinted with permission from MIT News

Say ‘I Do’ To Sharing This Great News: Click To Share With Your Friends – Photo by Mayflower Venues

‘This is a historic moment’: 35-Year Saudi Cinema Ban Ends With Men, Women Seated Together For ‘Black Panther’

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Good News Network
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Saudi Arabia has just opened up their first movie theater in 35 years – and their first showing was available to both men and women.

The theater, which opened yesterday in the capital of Riyadh, kicked off the kingdom’s new cultural revolution by playing a showing of Marvel’s empowering box office hit Black Panther.

To celebrate the landmark event, the theater was filled with the country’s most honored officials and icons, such as government representatives, ministers, diplomats, and celebrities.

“It is just great to watch a superhero fighting for his kingdom, surrounded by women empowered as warriors, while the issues of race and colonialism were tackled,” a 27-year-old political scientist told ABC News. “And all of this in Riyadh.”

RELATED: Defying Stereotypes, Female Mechanic Fixes Worries of Women Drivers in the Middle East

The lifted ban is just a part of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to create a more “open and moderate Islam” for the country. In addition to opening up theaters for men and women, he has also passed legislation that allows women to attend sports games, drive cars, vote, run for office, and pursue health care and education without a man’s permission.

The Saudi government, which is already planning on adding 350 more cinemas with 2,500 screens by 2030, hopes that adding such cultural investments will help steer the country’s economy away from their oil dependency.

“The restoration of cinemas will … help boost the local economy by increasing household spending on entertainment while supporting job creation in the Kingdom,” Culture and Information Minister Awwad Alawwad said in a statement.

(WATCH the news segment on the historic event below)

Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends – Photo by WION

After Grandmother Loses Ability to Speak, Man Uses Tech to Get Her Voice Back

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Good News Network
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GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.

Danny Weissberg is a perfect example of how anyone can turn tragedy into inspiration.

After witnessing his grandmother suffer a stroke that left her with intelligible speech, Danny realized the hardships one faces after losing their basic ability of voiced communication – a privilege that we so often take for granted.

RELATED: If You Have Urgent Need of an EpiPen, This App Finds a Stranger to Rescue You

That’s why he created Voiceitt, a speech recognition technology that enables people with speech disabilities to communicate with anyone, anywhere.

“I was frustrated by the lack of options, and created Voiceitt to foster independence, empowerment and social inclusion for the speech impaired”, Danny explains.

There is no other voice assistive solution like Voiceitt in existence. The app records and learns a user’s personal speech patterns and pronunciation. After a brief training period, the app can turn statements into clear speech in real time for immediate use in audio, text messaging, and face-to-face communication. Not only that, but it can identify unclear words that cannot be understood by other people or generic speech recognition software like Siri or Google Voice.

MORE: Because His AirBnb Guest Had a Heart Attack, Man’s Ingenuity is Now Saving Thousands of Lives

The service is catered towards children and adults with conditions such as autism, Down syndrome and ALS, so that it can offer them the chance to be heard.

A civil engineer turned serial entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in Israel’s high-tech scene, Danny started his career at the leading cyber firm, Checkpoint. He worked at several other cutting-edge technology companies, and ultimately co-founded a mobile device brand called YubiTech, where he served as CEO until launching Voiceitt in May 2012.

The Tel-Aviv-based startup has received a total of $3.7M in grants and competition prizes alone, and Danny spends time sharing his knowledge and wisdom through lectures on non-traditional fundraising and social entrepreneurship.

CHECK OUT: 12-Year-old Creates First App to Help Alzheimer’s Patients Keep Track of Things

Danny set out to become an entrepreneur who could create something positive in this world – and that is exactly what he has accomplished. He says, “I’m completely fulfilled. My work and my life goals are intertwined. I’m part of a venture that is not only for money, but also one that’s meaningful and can improve the lives of millions.”

Through its Fellowship program launched in 2012, The Global Good Fund invests in high potential leaders committed to social impact worldwide. It also created the 360 MIRROR – the first evidence-based leadership assessment for social entrepreneurs and CEOs.

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Fans Break into Keanu Reeves Property–But Instead of Calling Cops, He Invites Them in for Beer

By
McKinley Corbley
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Just in case we needed more proof that Keanu Reeves is the nicest celebrity to grace the planet, a woman named Chris Johnston just wrote about a personal story that seals the deal.

Back in 1990, Johnston and her cousin had been visiting California to see her boyfriend Ned play in a softball tournament. Since Johnston was a big Reeves fan at the time (and still is), her cousin offered to take her to the movie star’s property.

The two young women mustered their courage, jumped the fence, and walked up the driveway to knock on the front door.

While telling this story now on Facebook, Johnston has no delusions about her actions at the time.

LOOK: People Are Posting Stories of Celebrities Being Nice to Them and it is Incredibly Refreshing

“If this happened today, I am not sure the outcome would be the same,” she wrote.

“It was a calmer time, and I also think a more innocent time. I think if it were today, I would for sure be on the news … but I also would not do it today. Of course, older and wiser. I think being young ‘silly’ girls helped too!”

But instead of accosting the youngsters for trespassing, Reeves started a polite conversation with the fans.

WATCH: Keanu Reeves Has Been a Secret Charity Badass for Years

“After we told him the story and asked him not to call the police, he invited us in, gave us a beer and spoke with us,” says Johnston. “I told him how I was there for my boyfriend’s softball tournament and … [Reeves] wrote that note for Ned and I [with] best wishes to him in the softball tournament. He was such an awesome guy!”

After getting a few pictures with the movie star as evidence of the sweet encounter, they bid him farewell and went to get the pictures developed. Due to a mishap with the film, however, Johnston was very close to losing the photos.

“When we left, I had accidentally exposed the film in the camera, we went right to a one hour photo shop with the hopes of having the pictures saved… after an agonizing wait, there were only 3 pictures that were not all yellow from exposure… I was so grateful because no one would have ever believed us. Sometimes I still can’t believe it.”

While most of us would probably not repeat Johnston’s actions, her story is an excellent reminder that not all celebrities have their heads in the clouds.

Click To Share The Excellent Adventure With Your Friends – Photos by Chris Johnston

Boy With Autism’s LEGO Replica of the Titanic is So Impressive, it is Now on Display at the Ship’s Museum

By
McKinley Corbley
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An Icelandic boy who is fascinated by LEGOs built a 26-foot replica of Titanic, the fabled ship that sunk into the ocean after hitting an iceberg 106 years ago.

His replica is so impressive, it has traveled to a dozen destinations around the world before finally being placed in the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where it will be on display for the next year.

Brynjar Karl Bigisson first started playing with LEGOs at just 5 years old. As he got older, he became more and more inspired by people using the bricks to build giant, life-like sculptures.

At the age of 10, he decided to express his interest in the Titanic by making a replica of the ship.

LOOK: Bullied Boy Finds Beauty in Himself After Adopting Cat With the Same 2 Rare Conditions as Him

With the help of his grandfather and an engineer to make the blueprints, Brynjar started building the toy ocean liner in a warehouse near his home in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The impressive creation took 700 hours (roughly 11 months) to build with 56,000 bricks and 120 tubes of crazy glue.

“The estimated cost for the … bricks I needed to start the project was $8,000 and then other costs (platform, tools, glue,) were around $2,000,” says Brynjar. “We managed to raise $3,000 with crowdfunding and $3,000 with book sales and sponsors. The LEGO group in Denmark gave me 30% discount on the LEGO Bricks I bought from them and some people donated their old LEGO bricks.”

RELATED: Strangers Rally Around 13-Year-old Whose Rock Museum Was Robbed

Now 15 years old, the youngster has traveled all over the world to give speeches on his autism and what it was like to build the LEGO Titanic.

“This whole journey has helped me out of my autistic fog,” he said. “I was totally unable to communicate when I started the project and now I’m standing on stage and giving interviews. It has given me confidence. When I started the building process I had a person helping me in school in every step that I took, but today, I’m studying without any support. My grades have risen and my classmates consider me as their peer. I have had the opportunity to travel and explore and meet wonderful people.”

(WATCH the video below)

Build Some Positivity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends – Photo by the Titanic Museum

“The only people with whom you should try to get even with, are those who have helped you.” – John E. Southard

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The only people with whom you should try to get even with, are those who have helped you.” – John E. Southard

Photo: by Chiara Cremaschi, CC

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

After 399 Rejections, Woman is Saving the Earth With BBQ Chips Made From Bugs

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Good News Network
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GNN.org is the exclusive media partner for the 2018 ‘Global Good Fund’ Fellows—12 extraordinary young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place. Chosen annually, the 12 Fellows are each matched with an executive mentor, leadership coach, and $10,000. Hand-selected from 2,400 applicants in 100 countries, these visionaries are being celebrated—one each day on GNN—leading up to the 6th Annual Global Good Fund Gala, on April 26.

Tortilla chips made from insects – now there’s a concept.

You may be surprised to learn that this snack actually does exist thanks to Rose Wang, CEO and Co-Founder of Chirps Chips.

Chirps Chips exists to normalize eating insects so that society can envision a sustainable food system where insects are grown in urban areas and fed on food waste. Unlike factory farming, insects can be raised humanely in cities, without antibiotics or growth hormones. Chirps Chips uses crickets milled into a flour to make high-protein tortilla chips – and they’re delicious, with three times more protein and 40% less fat than a regular chip.

MORE: Drinking Alcohol Boosts Longevity—Even More Than Exercise, Says 14-Year Study

The goal? To substitute animal protein with insect protein, which will in turn reduce land and water usage and greenhouse emissions.

During her senior year of college, Rose was dared to eat a fried scorpion while studying abroad in China. Although terrified, she took on the challenge and was pleasantly surprised – the bug tasted like shrimp!

Her fears quickly disappeared, and she started to wonder why people were eating bugs in other parts of the world, but not in the US – in fact, around 2 billion people already eat bugs as part of their diet.

LOOK: World’s First Mass-Produced, 3D-Printed Car is Electric and Costs Under $10K

Rose became infatuated by the subject. Upon further research, she discovered that the livestock industry contributed to more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined. Insects on the other hand are one of the most sustainable protein sources available, and could be the key to reducing the food system’s impact on climate change.

Rose and her college roommate, Laura D’Asaro, began experimenting with crickets that they bought from a local pet shop and co-founded the startup venture soon after.

When the business was first getting off the ground, everyone called them crazy, believing there was no way a company working to re-build the food system with insect protein could thrive. Rose and Laura had to call 400 manufacturers to try and sell their product, and received 399 no’s before they got one yes.

MORE: Woman’s Ingenious Invention Generates Electricity Using Wind From Trains, Subways

Now, Chirps Chips is backed by Mark Cuban after winning a deal on “Shark Tank“, and the snack is being sold on thousands of store shelves across the nation in flavors like BBQ and cheddar.

In addition to being a Shark Tank survivor, Rose is a Forbes 30 under 30 social entrepreneur, Elle USA Impact Award winner, Echoing Green Climate Fellow, MassChallenge Gold winner, Harvard Dean’s Design Challenge winner, and TEDx speaker.

MORE: Buy Your Coffee to Help 40 Firefighters Who Lost Their Homes in Wildfires

Chirps Chips manufactures the first of what Rose and Laura hope will be a long line of bug-based snacks.

“We would like to have all sorts of insects and brands under our company. Our planet and resources are important, and we are going to keep fighting no matter what,” says Rose.

Through its Fellowship program launched in 2012, The Global Good Fund invests in high potential leaders committed to social impact worldwide. It also created the 360 MIRROR – the first evidence-based leadership assessment for social entrepreneurs and CEOs.

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North and South Korea Reportedly Prepare to Officially End Their 68-Year War

By
McKinley Corbley
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The leaders of North and South Korea may finally put an end to the conflict that has been affecting the two nations for the last 68 years.

At the end of the Korean war in 1954, South and North Korean officials signed a truce. Though it put an end to the violence between Pyeongchang and Seoul, they never actually agreed to sign a peace treaty.

The countries came closing to ending the war in 2007 during the “Sunshine Policy” peace talks, but it was not to be. In addition to North Korea resisting international inspections of their nuclear facilities, South Korea elected a new president in 2008 who abandoned the negotiations.

But now according to a report published by the South Korean newspaper Munhwa Ilbo, an unnamed Seoul official says that the two nations will be announcing their intention of ending the decades-long war during a leader’s summit later this month – which is the third-ever meeting between South and North leaders in history.

RELATED: In Proposed Summit With US, North and South Korea to Push Serious Goal of Peace Without Nuclear Weapons

If the countries successfully end the war, it could also spell the end of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the Korean border. The 2.5-mile stretch of land would return to its original state, and all troops, artillery, and other weapons would be pulled back from both sides.

The negotiations could also pave the way for a meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in May or June, which would make history as the first ever sitting between an American president and a North Korean leader.

Click To Share The Exciting News With Your Friends

Disabled Man is Inundated With Job Offers After Holding Sign on the Road Asking For Work

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Good News Network
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This man’s determination for a job has finally paid off after a photo of him on the side of the road was shared to an Australian community Facebook page.

After moving from Brisbane to Mackay three weeks ago in order to be closer with his family, 33-year-old Mathew Magrath has been trying to find a job.

When applying to positions online and dropping off his resumé failed to land him any interviews, he decided to put himself out there and sit on the side of the road in his wheelchair with a “Work Wanted” sign boasting his experience in sales, accounts, and administration.

For the first few days, he didn’t have any luck.

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“It’s a tough time for everybody, but especially when you’re disabled. I find some workplaces are not prepared to take you on because they don’t have the right layout or accessibility for wheelchair users,” Magrath told The Daily Mail.

Magrath lost his ability to walk after he broke his neck 14 years ago by falling off of a 6-foot balcony – but that hasn’t stopped him from working as hard as his able-bodied counterparts.

“I know I can work, I like working. I don’t want to be on the dole or anything,” he told the Daily Mercury. “It’s easier to give up, it is a little bit daunting watching everyone go past but at the end of the day it’s working.”

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“People also sort of look at disability as an inconvenience in some sense,” he told the Mail. “There is a stigma against disabled people, but they’re often very loyal and hard-working.”

Finally, after several days without any responses, he was spotted by Katelyn Neal, who snapped a photo of his sign and posted it to the “Jobs in Mackay” Facebook group.

“I’ve seen this person two days in a row down on Lagoon street at around 7:30AM yesterday and today. Thought it might be worth a share and in turn this might help them out.

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“I know what it’s like to try to find work and constantly get knocked back. It takes courage to do what he is doing.”

Since she posted the photo, Magrath has been inundated with job offers. With several interviews lined up during the coming weeks, he says he feels very optimistic about the future and he “expects to have employment by the end of next week”.

Pass On The Positivity To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by Katelyn Neal

UK’s Largest Coffee Chain is Now Shelling Out Cash to Recycle Everyone’s Cups

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Good News Network
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Costa Coffee, the UK’s largest java retailer, is pledging to recycle half a billion single-use cups per year by 2020.

The initiative will make Costa Coffee the first ever coffee chain in the UK to commit to recycling the same volume of cups it puts onto the market, which will amount to roughly one fifth of the 2.5 billion takeaway coffee cups consumed as a nation each year.

Costa Coffee is going to achieve the ambitious goal by paying waste management companies to collect all the disposable coffee cups destined for the landfill and transport them to paper mills that can recycle the cups.

Though there are already three paper mills in the UK that are equipped to recycle paper, it has never been economically viable for the waste management companies to send them the cups. This means that all the paper products that could have been processed and reused either end up being incinerated or sent to a landfill.

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Costa plans on addressing this issue by simply paying the waste companies an additional $106 (£75) per ton of recycled paper cups, which is 140% more than what they’re paid already.

The company has already partnered with five waste companies that collectively manage a large majority of UK public spaces, “including hospitals, universities, and transport hubs”.

“The main issue is that effectively the price per tonne to the waste management companies received for cups has meant it hasn’t been economic for them to take the cups to the paper mills – there hasn’t been enough profit it in it for them,” Costa managing director Dominic Paul told The Independent.

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“We realized that was actually the hurdle we had to overcome if we were going to cut through this, and as the market leader we felt we should.”

All the consumer will have to do is throw their cup into a recycling bin.

“Costa is putting its money where its mouth is to find an immediate solution to increasing the volume of takeaway coffee cups being recycled in the UK. It also dispels the myth that coffee cups can’t be recycled!” says Paul.

“Following today’s announcement up to 100 million cups will be recycled this year alone and if the nation’s other coffee chains sign up, there is no reason why all takeaway cups could not be recycled by as early as 2020.”

We’ll Cheers To That! Click To Share The Good News With Your Friends – Photo by Nirzar, CC

NFL Player Makes Good on His Promise to Return Home and Take Special Needs Girl to Prom

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Good News Network
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For some high schoolers, prom is a night that they will never forget – especially for this 18-year-old student with special needs who had a superstar date for the dance.

NFL defensive back player Don Jones II made good on his promise to return to his home county in Alabama and take Lindsey Preston to prom.

Jones is acquainted with the Preston family because his mother taught Lindsey in elementary school. So despite having a busy schedule playing for the San Francisco 49’ers, the 27-year-old traveled back to Lawrence County and took Lindsey to a special needs prom on Friday.

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“Anything I can do to make some kids smile, I would be more than willing to do,” Jones told local media. “I think the most fun was all of the guys, I showed the guys about five or six new dance moves…all of the guys followed me around all night and I was just glad I could dance and put smiles on the kid’s faces.”

And according to Preston’s mom, Jones was exceptional at making “all of the kids feel special”.

In addition to joining his second season with the 49’ers, Jones has played with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans.

Score Big With Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by Kristi Martin

“We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie

Photo: by Sam Antonio Photography, CC

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Divorce Lawyer Shares What He’s Learned From Failed Marriages –and Why He Still Believes It’s a Good Idea

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Good News Network
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The Lesson: With such high rates of divorce, it can be scary to think about the future of your romantic relationships and the possibility of failure in your marriage – but this divorce lawyer has worked with over 1,000 clients who have endured the difficulties of separation, and he’s learned a thing or two. In this podcast, James Sexton talks all about the wisdom and advice that he has garnered from his extensive career in divorce law and how people preparing for marriage can learn from it all.

Notable Excerpt: “The analogy I tell people is, if I said to you right now, you can have any car you want. What car would you have? [They might say] ‘I want a Maserati,’ okay? Now, if I then said to them, ‘Okay, you get one car, though. Whatever car you pick, that’s the car you’re going to have for the rest of your life.’ Suddenly a Lamborghini is a terrible idea, because you can’t put a car seat in it for a kid. And you can’t, when you’re eighty years old, get into that car, right? So if you’re only allowed to have one car, you got to find a car that not only makes sense when you’re twenty, and thirty, and forty, but when you’re seventy, and when you have kids, and when the kids have gone away.

“Well, marriage is a technology where you’re signing on with one person and saying, ‘For the rest of my life, I’m going to be with this person.’ And that’s a very challenging thing. But here’s the thing: I actually think people give more thought to the car they’re buying, than they do really to the technology of marriage, and what about it specifically they like or don’t like.”

The Guest: James Sexton is a New York City-based divorce lawyer who has managed over 1,000 clients since he graduated from Fordham Law School. His newly-published book “If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late: A Divorce Lawyer’s Guide to Staying Together” offers comprehensive advice on how romantic partners can preserve their relationships and why he still believes in successful marriages even after spending his career around heartbreak.

The Host: After spending years of his young life and athletic career struggling with his own emotional wellbeing, a crippling injury left Lewis Howes without an identity and without any work. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, however, Howes recreated himself as a multi-million dollar media producer, motivational speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host. The ex-football player now spends his days chatting with the most inspirational icons of this generation on his School of Greatness podcast.

Podcast: The School of Greatness podcast is available for download on Soundcloud and iTunes. You can also watch footage of the interviews on Howes’s YouTube channel.

Books: Howes is the author of the New York Times bestselling book “The School of Greatness”: an in-depth collection of lessons and wisdom that he has gathered from interviewing hundreds of the world’s greatest role models and thinkers. Howes’s latest book, “The Mask of Masculinity”, is based on his experience with the dangerous stereotypes and expectations that are placed on men in modern society.

(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below or read the transcript here) – Photo by James Youngson, CC

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