Beyond The Usual
Making a difference
I enjoy stories about people who think outside the box, who see beginnings where others see endings. Such people have a sense of vision that goes far beyond the imagination of most of us.
In Taipei, Taiwan, there is a football (soccer) stadium that hasn’t been used since 2008. Rather than letting the Zhongshan Stadium decay, the city government decided to transform it into a vast community garden. The concrete seating areas are now filled with planter pots where local residents grow vegetables to meet their own needs. They offer workshops on seasonal planting, and some growers operate small-plot “farms”. It’s part of Taipei’s longterm plan for urban micro-farming to create a greener city.
Is there anything like this where you live? Or could there be? Maybe you could plant the seed (pun intended) of the idea and watch the possibilities blossom.
Another example of finding possibilities in challenging situations comes from South Africa where a teenager used her imagination and skills to develop a special earring. Designed to counter gender violence and human trafficking, the tiny ear piece contains a camera and a distress alert activated by the press of a finger. The Alerting Earpiece takes a photo of the attacker and sends the victim’s location to trusted contacts and emergency services. This enables faster action and provides vital information for legal action.
“Technology shouldn’t just make life convenient; it should also protect the vulnerable.”
~ Bohlale Mphahlele, Mphahlele Alert
She has since launched her own company, Mphahlele Alert (Pty) Ltd, to bring her product to market and is pursuing a degree in Information Technology while mentoring young girls in technology.
How’s that for leadership?
Wonderful examples, Julie. I have been sequestered to Germany for the last three years (for the first time in my life that I did not leave Germany at all (due to bureaucratic regulations)) that I feel the inner need to travel and yes learn about cultures as well as ideas.