Thought I would share a couple of great organisations who have only popped up this year who are already on their way to doing great things by thinking outside the square and getting creative...

[co]design studio since forming in May this year have already 5 projects under their belt. The crux of this organisation is that they collaborate with architects and designers from the countries in which they work. What better way is there to engage communities than to build capacity of the local professionals and to exchange skills and learn from one another. Such inspiring work. You can follow their progress on Facebook, Twitter and the like. 

Another great concept is from the guys at turn me ON. The idea was to host worldwide design competition to generate discussion and ideas to address the current problem of accessing clean water in rural communities in Nepal. We are looking forward to seeing what the entrants have come up with! 

young designers

Eco-Cubby is a fantastic initiative being implemented in schools across Victoria. Supported by City of Melbourne and Regional Arts Victoria, the program teams Architects and designers up with school children and communities to promote concepts of sustainable design.

I love how insightful children are and this program allows the students to develop a range of skills and address a number of topics from creating awareness of the living environment through to the use of maths and scale. To highlight what can be achieved, this is an Eco-Cubby that has actually been built! It was designed by the children at the University of Melbourne Early Learning Centre and opened last month!

Take a look at the Eco-Cubby blog to see what some other schools have been up to.

AIME high

At the Vanguard last night we not only listened to some great music (headliners Saving Grace ) but in the process raised money for what can only be described as an educational revelation!

Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) is one of those not-for-profit organisations that you can't help but be in awe of. The program partners university students with young indigenous students, from years 7-12. This unique, one-on-one education based mentoring program aims to improve year 10 and year 12 completion rates and university admission rates for all participating students.

Beginning in 2005 with just 20 students from Redfern, AIME is now looking to engage more than 1000 students and plan to expand into Victoria and Queensland in 2010. What a fantastic acheivement! Do take the time to check out their website, truly inspiring.

barefoot ball!

It is always encouraging to hear of others doing great work. Operating in Uganda, the United Future Foundation (UFF) focuses on making education and skills training available to youth living in poverty stricken areas.

UFF is hosting the Black Tie and Barefoot Ball (not bare football as I first read it to be... another fundraising idea perhaps?) on May 15th, at The Hilton, Sydney. We take our hat off to anyone who can get a function of this size up and running! So congratulations to both Annabelle and Dave and all the best guys for what is shaping up to be a fun-filled night, not to mention a worthy one!

You can find out more about UFF by visiting their website.

happy villages

Our dear friends in Kenya have started up this inspiring organisation. Happy Villages aims to tackle such issues as health, education, environment, poverty, gender, communications and all the barriers to sustainable development one community at a time. Their approach is based on the UN Millenium Development Goals.

Ever the "happy" blogger George has recently added this all too true post on the facebook group: Extreme poverty is the most severe state of poverty, where people cannot meet basic needs for survival, such as food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, education and health care. 1.1 billion people currently live under these conditions. Extreme poverty hurts."We work towards a world without extreme poverty" join us!

b+c is right behind the Happy Villages team and we look forward to visiting a Happy Villages happy village soon! We urge you all to follow their progress and support them now and in the future as big things can only come from such a warm, beautiful bunch of passionate people!

Teach a Man to Fish

The old saying "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have feed him for a lifetime" is the inspiration for this particular organisation. Teach a Man to Fish aims to broaden access for the poor to high quality education combining vocational training and entrepreneurship by supporting institutions to increase their financial self-sufficiency. 

The website is packed full of fantastic projects from a 100% self-sustainable agricultural school in Paraguay to other small income generating projects such as piggeries and poultry initiatives in Uganda and Kenya. 

I hope this has give you a little inspiration for the day... if so I urge to you stop by and take a further look. 

p/hop

Pennies per hour per pleasure is an initiative being run by Medecins San Frontieres. A b+c friend is championing this unique knitting project. All money raised goes to MSF, an extremely worthwhile organisation. You can read about our friend, Lou who is featured this week knitting in Egypt by visiting the p/hop blog!

The idea of p/hop is to donate based on how many hours of pleasure you get from knitting your free pattern, which have been generously donated by designers. There is no set price to a pattern - you can give as much or as little as you like! 

We wish the p/hop team all the best in their attendance at their upcoming festivals. For those who are keen to jump on board do sign up - the world needs more knitters and MSF needs your support so they can continue to provide medical aid to those who need it most! 

educate one woman, educate a nation...

...this is the philosophy of SSEG - South Sudan Educates Girls. We recently found out about this amazing organisation from a friend who is involved. It is so great to come across similar minded people who believe whole heartedly in the importance of educating women.

SSEG aims to provide increased educational access and opportunities for girls in Southern Sudan. To achieve this, SSEG is building a girls' highschool in the town of Aweil and aims to contribute to the rebuilding of Southern Sudan by increasing education levels in the country

This charity organisation was set up by Sudanese people living in Australia with the help of some Australian school teachers and community members. Members of the SSEG committee have been inspired by the story of Anna Dimo and her dream to enable women to be educated participants in the rebuilding of South Sudan.

Congratulations to the committee on all your hard work so far, we at bricks + cartwheels know what it takes to establish something at this scale. We look forward to following your progress.

music. consciousness. action

Michael Franti featured on triple j today and what a cool dude he is! As Andrew Denton describes him in an Enough Rope interview - “In a pop world dominated by pipe-cleaner bimbos and testosterone-addled rock idiots, every now and then an act of class and substance creeps underneath the wire.”

A rebel with a cause, one of Michael’s many ventures is the Power to the Peaceful Festival. The mission of this festival is to bring people together through music and art to highlight the similarities and celebrate the diversity of all of the world’s inhabitants. It is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to the promotion of cultural co-existence, non-violence and environmental sustainability through the arts and music. It has already been on this year BUT good news is, he has announced he is heading to Tanzania to stage a festival in February next year in a bid to combat ethnic tensions in the country. Not only will he will document this journey, he has been travelling the world, asking people what it means to be human to compile his long-term documentary called Stay Human.

This excerpt from Franti sums up his passion for justice perfectly: I feel like right now is an opportunity, because in a time of great turmoil comes opportunity for great change. And so all of us, no matter where we are as musicians, as people sitting around the water cooler at work or amongst our families or school teachers or whoever, we all have a position to play in the world right now in determining the direction that the world is going to go. And things are going to change regardless, but we need to make sure that, as Martin Luther King has said, that peace is not merely the absence of war, but it's the presence of justice.

His latest album All Rebel Rockers is out now and in the words of the man himself "It's easy to pick up a newspaper and get frustrated and be like, 'Man, this world is just going to hell.' But I wanted to make a record that made people feel inspired, so they could wake up every day and be like, 'Man, I can face this day and I want to look to positivity and light.'"

I feel like I can take on the world now!

hospital by the river

This book is on the top shelf of the bricks + cartwheels ever growing library. Adding to our list of inspirational women is the story of Catherine Hamlin and the women of Ethiopia. If ever there was a story of suffering this one will make you stop and think just how lucky women in the developing world are... however this story gives you the hope that their are people out there closing this gap.

Gynaecologists Catherine and Reg Hamlin left Australia in 1959 on a short contract to establish a midwifery school in Ethiopia. Over 40 years later, Catherine is still there, running one of the most outstanding medical programs in the world. Through this work thousands of women have been able to resume a normal existence after living as outcasts, cured of the horrible obstetric fistula. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 2 million women have untreated fistula and that approximately 100,000 women develop fistula each year. Fistula is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

The Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital has treated over 30,000 women over 33 years. Their cure rate is over 90%. Fistula can be prevented if laboring women are provided with adequate emergency obstetric care when complications arise.

For more information about the awe inspiring work of Catherine Hamlin visit the Fistula Foundation site.

blog action day - we're in. are you?

Next Wednesday the 15th of October is this year's Blog Action Day. The topic this year is poverty. If like us you haven't come across this great concept before your in for a lovely surprise. As Pia from the blog enhance the everyday said it's a "great idea to bang our blogs together to stimulate awareness, conversation and creativity about something that is in desperate need of our attention." 

Last year the issue was the environment and this year it's poverty. This project is supported by the UN, and lots of other organisations both big and small. So if you'd like to join us on the 15th click here to register and here for more information. 

We'll be posting something from bricks + cartwheels and will be clicking around the blogosphere to check out what everyone else is writing/thinking/creating.

on my wish list...

PlayPumps International’s mission is to help improve the lives of children and their families by providing easy access to clean drinking water, enhancing public health, and offering play equipment to millions of people across Africa. The PlayPump water system are innovative, sustainable, patented water pumps powered by children at play. Installed near schools, the PlayPump system doubles as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children. Already in communities across South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zambia- they are currently expanding to Kenya and fingers crossed we'll be able to work together to bring clean drinking water and a whole lot of fun for the kids of Katolo!

Have a look at their cool bags on flashbags - I am eyeing off the Spinning Smiles extra large box bag, with 10% of the profits going directly to PlayPumps International. It is on my Christmas list already- what a cool way to start a conversation...

If you never ever go, you’ll never ever know!

So that slogan endorsed by none other than Darryl Somers is well past it’s used by date but it still rings true. On a recent trip we discovered the rare beauty and deep rooted culture of the Northern Territory. Here are a few highlights...

Ubirr at sunset is a sight to behold. Located in the East Alligator region of Kakadu National Park, it is famous for its rock art. The panoramic views are breathtaking, not to mention the exquisite art which in some places is a mind blowing 40 000yrs old… hard to comprehend.

Injalak Arts + Craft Centre at Oenpelli aims to promote and preserve the indigenous art and culture of Western Arnhem Land. Located at Gunbalanya, a small Aboriginal township the centre was opened in 1989. As a non-profit enterprise any income stays within the community and assists in its development. It is managed by an incorporated Association whose members are the artists and community. The Associations major emphasis is on cultural maintenance and economic self-determination. Such a fantastic initiative and with no doubt the best place to purchase bark paintings and woven pandanas baskets – it is chock a block full of beautiful artwork.

Architecture viewing is always a part of the itinerary and the Bowali Visitor’s Centre didn’t disappoint! If you can believe it the gutters were one of the outstanding features… Designed by Glenn Murcutt and Troppo Architects this building is a long 168m. In true Troppo style the building offers a close relationship with the bush setting through its wide verandahs, rammed earth walls, ironwood floors and natural stone features. The roof line and east west orientation encourage airflow – in temperatures of +30degree heat and 90% humidity it is amazing you feel comfortable under its eaves.

What is so important is that they worked very closely with the traditional land owners. Local contractors were employed and local Aboriginal associations sourced all the materials including the extensive display items that you can explore and learn of the country and its people. It is so pleasing to witness the results of a building which has originated from a community consultation process - and it is a success!

OzHarvest

One of the bricks + cartwheels ladies alerted us to this fantastic program after passing their stall at Live Green on Sunday.

Founded in 2004, OzHarvest is a non-denominational charity that rescues excess food which would otherwise be discarded. This excess food is distributed to charities supporting the disadvantaged and at risk in Sydney and Canberra.

OzHarvest currently receives food from 175 regular and a further 290 ad hoc food donors. Food is donated by all the major law firms within the city and Parliament House on a regular basis. Large corporate offices, tourist operators, function centres and caterers all contribute to the 75 000 meals OzHarvest delivers every month. Not only do they deliver food to those in need this process saves excess perishables from being dumped as landfill. Win win all round!

If at anytime you are aware of anyone throwing away excess food- just give OzHarvest a call on 9516 3877.

For more info about this food rescue initiative visit here.

jeans for genes day

Today is jeans for genes day! This girl is wearing awesome jeans. I forgot to wear jeans today, but i bought a lovely gold badge at the station to make up for it. Check out the website to see how you can donate or help. Its a very worthwhile cause.

Peru's Challenge

The Peru's Challenge Program works with volunteers to create opportunities for rural children living in the Andes of Peru in South America.

The Program was started by Jane Gavel (Australian) and Selvy Ugaz (Peruvian).

The aims of the organisation are to create basic opportunities for the children of Peru focusing on education, health and providing a happy and safe environment.

Like bricks + cartwheels before starting any project, they have lengthy discussions with all members of the community to ascertain what it is that they want and require for their children and how they can work closely together.

"It is very important the community feels that we are working as a team. Constantly through the project development, we involve the community in all decisions and plans. This way, they learn to continue the great work that we have done together and become self sustaining with the support of the relationship built with the Department of Education for years to come."

This is the type of work we love to see! Visit here to read more about this fantastic organisation and inspiring projects they are currently working on.

silk roses

Aren't these roses pretty.... we stumbled across them at the lovely happy cavalier. The roses are handmade in Cambodia by young women who are victims of sex trafficking. 100% of the profits go back to the centre where they are made. You can buy them here.