In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we take a look at a new teaching approach that makes learning to read easier for children, the amazing impact teachers can have on teenagers held in detention, and how renewables have been a force for long-lasting change in indigenous communities.
These children are improving reading skills faster thanks to brain-science
A school district in Washington has adopted a new teaching method to tackle high levels of below-average literacy in children. ‘Structured literacy’ is based on brain-science and is a more intuitive way to learn English than traditional methods.
Education taking center stage in juvenile detention centers
Many youths who end up in detention centers have had difficulty in school and often did not receive adequate learning support. These teachers are up for the challenge of motivating their students and putting them back on the path to academic success.
Renewable energy projects are breathing new life into tribal communities
Work opportunities are scarce in Native American reservations and many people travel far for often low quality or low paying jobs. Now tribes are investing in solar, wind and hydro power projects, enabling people to remain in their communities and have good jobs.
Produce prescriptions: A ‘new’ kind of medicine for diet-related diseases
Diseases like obesity and diabetes are strongly related to dietary habits. Government programs of ‘food as medicine’ have proven to be effective in treating these health problems, by giving free and easy access to fresh produce.
NGOs around Europe are going beyond food banks, providing innovative ways to curb food waste, such as an app that links customers to cafés and shops with extra produce at the end of the day.
Young entrepreneur giving a new look to used shoes in Cape Verde
20-year-old Cape Verdean Nuno Duarte founded a company to bring shabby-looking shoes to new life. He promotes his business on Instagram to reach fellow young people who appreciate his redesigns.
Right back at you: The Ugandan designer returning the west’s cast-offs
Fed up with Africa being a ‘waste disposal system’ for donated clothes, Bobby Kolade decided to refashion items into unique designs and return them to the sender.
The unique non-profit Living Lands and Waters has collected more than 5 tonnes of trash of all sizes and types from the river over the years. A group of volunteers also plant trees regularly and hold conservation workshops.
