Chagemakers contest: Social networking for social change

The motto for Ashoka's Changemakers initiative is "open sourcing social solutions." Changemakers seeks to develop a community that competes to generate the most effective solutions to social problems and afterwards works together to refine and implement them. The latest Changemakers contest, Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for Rural Communities, focuses on improving the quality of life in impoverished, rural areas.

In a way, the contest website speaks more through its structure than through the actual words on the screen. The plethora of links to the most recently submitted entries and discussions items (both available as RSS feeds) shows their emphasis on communication and community solutions. The fact that the only mention of the $5000 prize that I found is hidden away in small print in the middle of the Competition Guidelines and Criteria page demonstrates that this is not primarily a competition for the money. Sure, a reward is offered - we live in a capitalist society were money is the lubricant that keeps the wheels turning. However, Changemakers is not using cash as the primary motivator for creating positive change. How refreshing!

The submission deadline is May 13, 2009. Any innovative solution - from planting to sales - that can improve the lives of people on the world's poorest farms is welcome.

For more information, click here.