In this edition of Squirrel News, over-50s in England are feeling happier than before the pandemic, engineers have used origamic inspiration to design emergency shelters, and school children in Cyprus are learning about sustainability while keeping home cooking oil out of the drains.
Life satisfaction among English over-50s found higher than before pandemic
New research shows people over 50 in England have greater life satisfaction and more of a sense that life is worthwhile than before the pandemic, although depression remains common.
The University of York gives refuge to at-risk human rights activists worldwide
The Sanctuary Fund has already given scholarships and support to dozens of international students and academics persecuted and in danger for their work in aid of human rights. Human-rights lawyers, medics, and policy-makers are some of the career choices this support has made possible.
New design for emergency shelters inspired by origami
Because speed is of the essence when people need shelter in emergencies, two engineers at the University of Maine have designed a flat-foldable, quickly constructible and highly portable structure based on the principals of origami.
Former hotel for sale for $10 to buyer who will create housing for the homeless
The city purchased the former Stay Inn in 2023 with intent to build a shelter for homeless people. Now it has decided to sell the property “as is” for a token amount to a buyer who will agree to create “supportive housing” for the homeless and keep it affordable for 99 years.
“Female Invest” secures funding to teach women financial literacy globally
What started as a community initiative in Denmark has grown to a global movement, teaching women to take charge of their finances. The women who founded the platform say investment is not just for the wealthy.
Making ends meet: finding financial solutions for Guatemala and the UK
BBC journalists speak to Guatemalan women about community credit and savings groups formed to help save money, learn business skills and get loans with interest then shared between them. They also talk to “Bags of Food” in the UK that delivers ingredients and recipes to low-income participants and where the kickstart to home cooking is saving people about 1000 pounds a year.
Women refugees in Darfur lead reforestation effort in land blighted by war
The conflict and displacement in Darfur has caused a massive increase in tree cutting for charcoal and firewood in the Sudan-Chad borderland. Women refuges have organised and are planting neem trees to bring back the forest with support from the UN and the sale of their crafts.
Green Belt around Burkina Faso’s capital regaining desert ground, feeding a city
The almost 5,000 acre green belt around the capital began in the 1970’s with the goal of reforesting land lost to desertification. It has met its original goals and in recent years expanded its mission to cooling and feeding the city. Climate migration has caused the city to grow rapidly, but residents, including those displaced from rural farming, can claim plots and garden up to six beds.
80,000 school kids in Cyprus help convert cooking oil to biofuel
In what is called the “frying pan movement” about 80,000 Cypriot school children bring used cooking oil from home for collection and conversion. The initiative prevents the oil from clogging drains and polluting ground water. The children then get to decide what green efforts their schools will support with their share of the profits from the sale of biofuel.
