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Design schools as agents of (sustainable) change

Submitted by Eunji Cho on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 2:39pm

Authors

Ezio Manzini

Tags

sustainable change, design schools

Themes

education, Public services

by Ezio Manzini

Sustainable SNU: Green Innovation of Campus in SNU

Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 6:25pm

Themes

education, Public services
Promoters: 
Asian Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability (AIEES), Seoul National University
Presentation: 
AIEES made collaboration in multidisciplinary sectors. We are promoting research and education towards multidisciplinary collaboration embracing studies in the environment, economics, and social sciences, which further include our ecosystem, climate changes, energy, local development and urban design.

Context:
AIEES will be involved in policy making for sustainable development, talent training and technology advancement, while leading collaborated endeavors among government, universities, institutes, local community and private sector as well. AIEES will become the think-tank embodying Sustainability. As a public institute AIEES will enhance collaboration in multidisciplinary researches, the network between human resources and intellectual infrastructure, especially heightening the University’s social stewardship.

COMMUNITY DAY-CARE MUNDO INFANTIL

Submitted by joonsbaek on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 10:12am

Countries

Brazil

Tags

Day-care center

Themes

education
Link: 
n/a
Stakeholders / Promoters: 
Responsible and leader: Some women of the community, having as coordinator Adriana Maria da Silva and Marlene Pereira de Castro. Providers: contracted members of the initiative and professionals. Users: The children with families who can, contribute with a monthly fee of R$20,00. Children of families of the community who can’t afford the fee are accepted too. The center currently is without financing or regular aid. Sporadically it receives donations from individuals or private education institutions, as the Corcovado School (food and cleaning material) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro (capacity building for educators). Also it receives aid from companies as the C&A and other also external agents to the community: Institute Promundo (assistance in project elaboration) and CIESPI - International Center of Studies and Research on Infancy (qualification courses). Connections: the initiative already had support of the government and of FIA (Foundation for Infancy and Adolescence), but currently does not count on the support of any organization.
Background/ Context: 
The day-care center has its origin in the necessity of the families to have a place where to leave their children while they go to work. The initiative begun with a group of five mothers who decided they would leave their children in one house under the guard of other women of the community who did not work out. The children were each day in a house. With the objective to set a day-care center with more infrastructure, in a property destined to this function, these mothers had started to produce and sell snacks, handicrafts, etc. as form of raising capital. With the collected money, and a bank loan, they managed to buy a dedicated house.
Case Description: 

Formed by initiative of Santa Marta community, aiming at take care and to alphabetize the children of the community, giving an accessible alternative for the families so that it became possible for the mothers of these children to have a job, knowing that the children would be safe while they are working.

Benefits (Social, and environmental benefits): 

The initiative left begun of a group of women in the slum quarter Santa Marta who, were mobilized to construct a day-care center, with the objective to have a place to put their children to be while they were working, improving the daily life not only of them but also of the relatives who helped to take care of the children, of the future mothers of the community, and of the proper children that have conditions for developing more good, or either, this initiative transformed all the community, improving the future perspectives.

Green Map Service

Submitted by joonsbaek on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 11:19pm

Countries

United States

Tags

mapping sustainable sites

Themes

production activities, community building, do-it-yourself, education, social services
Link: 
Green Map Service
Stakeholders / Promoters: 
Green Map System Inc., Green Map Communities around the world
Background/ Context: 
Green Map Service (GMS) was conceived by Wendy E. Brawer of Modern World Design who charted NYC Green Apple Map in 1992. Stemming from experience in charting New York City’s environment, the original Green Map concept was focused on charting beneficial ‘green’ sites along with challenging ‘toxic hot spots’ in cities and towns.
Case Description: 

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The aim of GMS is to serve as a guide for sustainable living and to help everyone get involved with their community’s natural and built environment. Using mapmaking as a medium, Green Map System encourages involvement in cultivating more sustainable communities around the world. By highlighting a community’s special places as well as its natural, cultural and sustainability resources, Green Map expects to help local citizens understand their community’s interdependent environmental, social and economic systems. Green Maps provide residents, newcomers and visitors a guide to local green options, they can also bring attention to the negative sites that challenge community well-being. Mapmakers share adaptable mapmaking resources and universal icons.

Although Green Map System authorizes local mapmakers to use its Green Mapmaking icons and tools, every project is independent and locally-led. Grassroots and established non-profits, universities and schools, governmental and tourism agencies use the icons and adaptable methodologies to develop and publish their own community’s Green Map in a way that meets the needs of residents and visitors.

Benefits (Social, and environmental benefits): 

•    Social benefits: GMS involves social activities as a part of mapmaking process. It is used as a didactic exercise at schools and corporate social responsibility in the industries. For example, employees at Delta Electronics created several energy-oriented Green Maps charting corporate facilities and factories in Taiwan and China.

•    Environmental benefits: Some of Green maps contribute to promotion of climate change action, overcoming disasters and healthy mobility. For example, after the hurricane Catrina, a green map that charts different places on nourishment in New Orleans was created.

KickStart

Submitted by admin on Tue, 05/17/2011 - 4:52pm

Countries

Ghana

Themes

small enterprises, education, job creation
Link: 
http://www.kickstart.org
Background/ Context: 
Africa is by far the world’s poorest continent, with over 36% of its population living on less that US$1 a day. Over 60% of the population works in the agricultural sector, with the majority of those being only subsistence farmers. The continent is extremely dependent on aid.
Case Description: 

KickStart believes that self-motivated private entrepreneurs managing small-scale enterprises are the most effective agents for developing economies. They identify such opportunities, develop technologies and business packages, train manufacturers to produce the new technologies, market the new technologies, and monitor the cost-effectiveness and impact of its program.The goal is to empower these local farmers and entrepreneurs to become more self-sufficient and economically viable.

Benefits (Social, and environmental benefits): 

KickStart’s technology is sustainable and has a grassroots-level impact, so the returns from their products go directly to those that need it most. Available land is put to more efficient use. Families are able to support and advance themselves, through education, for example, and be able to turn their attention toward community development and environmental protection.