Nuru Combats Violence By Building Self-Sustaining Communities

Kyle Studstill

 

After serving two tours of duty in Iraq, platoon commander Jake Harriman began to develop a unique understanding of the sociocultural dynamics behind the organizations his troops were fighting. In his words, “terrorists rely on an endless supply of people living in extreme poverty, with no other options in life. The only chance we have to see the end of terrorism, is to end extreme poverty.”

With this in mind, Harriman was inspired to form the community-building non-profit Nuru, focusing on five specific areas of development  – agriculture, water & sanitation, health care, community economic development and education.  Now beginning its second year, The Nuru team provides technology and education for underdeveloped communities, training them not just how to build but also how to maintain local infrastructures.

This article was originally posted on the PSFK website.

More great stories on Celsias:

Small Banks, Radical Vision

Sustainable Communities: From Theory to Practice

Follow us on Twitter!

Add a comment
  • to get your picture next to your comment (not a member yet?).
  • (hint: logged in Celsias members don't have to fill in this)
  • Posted on Nov. 22, 2009. Listed in:


    Pledge to do these related actions

    Don't use much paper, 499°

    Use emails wherever possible - they aren't made from trees :)

    Find (and lower) your carbon footprint, 244°

    Inevitably, in going about our daily lives, each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas ...

    Reducing over population , 31°

    I had a vasectomy, before I had a child, this has saved 70 years worth ...

    Follow these related projects

    Food for Change

    Global, New Zealand

    Featured Companies & Orgs