Tag Archives: HIYOW

In Laos, opening up a usable connection to the wider world takes money — and patience!

A Fistful of Kip: "You should have seen how big the stack would've been before they started printing larger bills", Carol said.

Here’s a quick “Help In Your Own Way” story… the one that started the whole project!

When Lauren and I first visited the @My Library last June, we noticed two things right away: That the students loved using computers — and that their shared internet speed was slow… painfully, glacially slow! When one student named Morthor asked us to sit with her and help fix her web email, we couldn’t even get through to the website. Our connection was so bad that, essentially, it was refused.

“How much does faster internet cost?”, I asked Carol.

“A lot — especially when adjusted for the cost of living here.” After I left, she sent me the exact figure: $1900 per year for a connection speed which, in the United States, would cost 1/10th that price.

[Read more…]

A Beautiful 20 X 30 Photograph By Award-Winning Photographer Adrian Mueller is Today’s Featured Prize!


ADRIAN MUELLER is both a good friend and an incredibly talented photographer.

He’s been recognized as one of Lürzer’s Archive’s “200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide”, named as one of PDN’s 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch in 2010, and also selected as Canon’s “Emerging Photo Pro” for 2010. William Sawalich, the Editor of Digital Photo Pro Magazine, said that “Adrian creates extraordinary images that clients not only want to publish, but also want to display on their walls.”

He’s right — and that’s why I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that, in addition to supporting The Language Project and Village Science directly, Adrian has donated a 20 x 30 inch, foamboard mounted copy of “Low Tide”, a photo from a series he shot on location in Nova Scotia.

Help In Your Own Way

Donating this beautiful photograph is only part of how Adrian embodies the Help In Your Own Way Giveaway spirit of people sharing their time and talent in a way that can help others. When his footage of a tornado in Brooklyn went viral on YouTube and was picked up by news outlets across the country, Adrian donated the money he received from the networks to Village Science. When I needed a heavy-duty case to safely transport donated equipment to Laos, I used one that Adrian gave me.

I wish every person had at least one friend as good as Adrian — and I can’t thank him enough for the contributions he’s made to these hard-working students.

What Can You Do?

Take a few moments to read about what The Language Project and Village Science are doing… maybe there’s something you can offer that can help!:

Have your own ideas? Just click here to reach out and share them!

Do you have a tip you would like to share? Click this link!

Today’s Featured Prizes: Chris Guillebeau Donates 2 $100 Gift Certificates for his Unconventional Guides!

CHRIS GUILLEBEAU is a man after my own heart.

Probably best known for his book ”The Art of Non-Conformity” (and the blog that inspired it), Chris has spent the last few years documenting ways that people can create remarkable, meaningful lives. Since returning to the United States from several years of volunteer work in West Africa, Chris has chronicled his ongoing personal development and used it as a springboard to inspire others. He’s leading his small army on a mission to eliminate artificial limitations and to change their world — from the inside out!

Not a bad gig, right?

When I asked Chris and his teammate Sean Ogle for their help, I had a feeling that they’d come through for you guys… and I was right! They’ve added 2 $100 Gift Certificates for their Unconventional Guides Store to the prize pool for our Help In Your Own Way Giveaway!

How Can You Help In Your Own Way?

Chris and Sean each know the value of engaging the world on your own terms — and then doing what you can to make it better. Their Unconventional Guides help people just like you to travel the world, to run successful businesses, and to spend more time doing things that excite them. If you appreciate the idea at the core of our Giveaway, these guides are going to be right up your alley — and two of you are only a step away from being able to receive $100 worth!

Take a moment to see the work that The Language Project and Village Science are doing… and then find a way to give them a boost! Maybe you could…

Come up with something else remarkable? Just click here to tell us all about it… and be sure to follow the Veritrope.com Twitter Feed for more prize announcements!

Do you have a tip you would like to share? Click this link!