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This blog is a global conversation among young people on poverty and other development-related issues. It's maintained by the World Bank's Youthink! team

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Blueprint for Green Schools

If you were intrigued by Saptarshi's blog post about the "green" ideas of Sophie Bathurst, you'll be happy to know she has been blogging in more detail about them on the World Bank's Climate Change blog. Sophie is the winner of this year's World Bank Essay Competition, and she has some innovative ideas about tackling climate change through youth-led solutions. Check it out!

Blueprint for Green Schools

Based on the essay by Sophie Bathurst (Australia/Germany) who is one of the eight finalists of The World Bank Essay Competition 2009.

In schools across the globe students are made to realize the importance of walking to school, as it is not only a very healthy form of exercise but also as it reduces our carbon footprint. However, parents are often reluctant to implement it as they are mostly too busy to accompany their kids and can’t allow them go alone on the dangerous city streets. The idea of a Walking School Bus, as suggested by Sophie, is one of the most innovative and effective ideas that I’ve come across in a long time. She also suggests that we should have Walking School Bus drivers to ensure the safety of the primary school students on the streets and even designated Walking School Bus Stops! I feel the sight of primary schools students walking in a group to school will certainly inspire older generations.

Changing Lives with Chili Peppers and Other Development Feats...

The World Bank’s Development Marketplace just launched its 2009 competition, which brings me back to my favorite topic: the role of creativity in development. The DM is a grant program that rewards projects that have a development impact, no matter how unconventional. From training rats to detect tuberculosis, to planting chili peppers as both a cash crop and way to keep foraging elephants away, DM projects are good
examples of the far-flung effects a single idea can have. 

Give Creativity the Respect it Deserves

Growing up, many of us receive a horde of unwanted advice in the name of our supposed wellbeing:

“Study accounting or management so you can get a paying job!” “Learn cooking rather than singing!” “You'll do it this way because that’s how it's always done!” “Let others change the world; you just focus on your career!”

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