You may have heard the name tech for good, but what does it mean? What tech for good events are out there. What kind of tech for good jobs are there?
In this article, we’ll clear up some of the mystery surrounding this new movement, and let you know not only how you can help, but how tech for good can help you directly.
A definition of tech for good
It’s really hard to pin down exactly what tech for good is if you are new to the movement. One of the best quotes we’ve seen is by Nissa Ramsay:
“Tech for Good is a community of people, projects, organizations and funders promoting the role of technology to improve social, environmental and economic outcomes.”
Basically, it’s technology with a conscience. While not specific to any one category, the goal is to overcome social and economic problems of people while taking care to include environmental impact.
Since this is a movement, and not a single organization, it can actually apply to a lot of different things.
Tech for good examples
Clean water for people in Africa through the use of Sawyer filters is an example. While this may seem a little low tech, it offers a cheap alternative to harvesting water from polluted sources from a lot of people, such as this project in Mwangaza.
Another application, even before the movement was a movement, came from a techie in the UK that decided the only way to help develop computer skills in children was to make a small, portable, and most importantly, cheap computer that could be available to anyone.
The result was the Raspberry Pi, a $35 computer that virtually anyone could afford, and designed in such a way that it stimulated young people into learning about programming and robotics. An old interview with Raspberry’s founder demonstrates the intent.
As you can see, the applications are quite diverse, and just about anybody with a good idea can make a huge impact on the world. The movement provides funding and resources for both charitable organizations and tinkerers who might want to make a couple bucks on the side while they solve the world’s problems.
The solutions from the movement range from agriculture, to power-saving home devices, to combating world-hunger.
Tech for good jobs
Mission driven companies with a humanitarian footprint are popping up all over the place, and anytime that happens, jobs follow.
Perhaps you don’t see yourself as the next Thomas Edison, but would rather work a job that makes you feel good about your impact on the planet.
There are job boards available where caring companies can find workers who want to make a difference. If you want to take a look at some of the growing companies to keep an eye on, you might check out some of the social good tech companies that are hiring now.
How can you make a difference?
If you own a company, then a new mission statement might be the way to go.
Obviously, your customers will want to know that you are making a difference, and sometimes donating to a charity is a simple way to do it. There are actually foundations that allow you to provide grants to others who are shouldering the innovation and new ideas.
Develop for Good is one such nonprofit that is making a huge difference right now, but a little searching online will reveal several 501(c) charities that your company can sponsor.
If you want to make a direct impact, it isn’t hard to find a way to help the planet or the social conditions in your local area. Sponsoring a community garden, putting some beehives on the roof of your building, or sending your employees to a local soup kitchen can all make a difference in the world, and make your company shine as a pillar of responsible leadership.
You can also figure out technology for yourself and your staff that helps to make the world a better place. Anything you can use to reduce waste, help the poor, provide housing, or feed the hungry.
In short, all of the areas of the human experience that need fixing shouldn’t have to wait for someone else to come along and fix them, or asking the government to step in.
Join the movement and start collaborating with other businesses. Participate in tech for good events. Implement local or global solutions to problems that you have ideas to fix. It’s rather simple really.
How can tech for tood benefit you?
If you would like to start a nonprofit yourself, the movement is ready to help you. Guides and assistance is everywhere online, and sometimes it will even come with some funding help.
With the movement being such an attractive point for big businesses to invest in, tech for good is gaining a large following of venture capitalists and grant money. If you dream of helping the planet, now more than ever, you can make a difference.
If you have an idea for a start-up that could make a difference, simply figure out the sector it would benefit, and look around for grants, scholarships, and private investors that might want to make a difference.
Your idea could be a simple GoFundMe away from becoming the next big revolution.
Further reading:
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