Cultural Collaboration is one of three pillars upholding the framework of our Purpose Earth grant and mentorship program. This pillar supports projects empowering creative expression and connection, while strengthening the values of compassion and collaboration, across communities and sectors. In bringing these ideals to the mainstream, we envision a consciously connected, global culture that honors the good of the whole.
Explore the extraordinary projects committed to this important work below.
The Resiliency Through the Ages' (RTA) project will unite eight youth with eight elders to co-create eight short films focusing on biodiversity resilience. The inspiration from the lessons these project leaders have learned from previous initiatives underscores the importance of intergenerational dialogue and participatory design in effecting climate action. This project’s mission is to document and share these critical stories, fostering deeper community engagement and influencing policy at local and international levels.
This project aims to revive and sustain the Niger handweaving tradition, a symbol of national pride. For generations, these weavers have made beautiful, complexly woven cloth. Recently, the profession has been in decline and the highly skilled weavers lack access to materials, organization, and the urban market. This project is working to improve its artisans’ incomes while preserving cultural heritage by organizing the weavers into a cooperative.
The Earth Guardians Indigenous Youth Initiative is a unique program focusing on uplifting Indigenous ways of life, voice and leadership, with a vision of bringing the planet back into balance and out of climate chaos. Every year this program plans a 7-day, in-person training, followed by ongoing support for the participating youth.
This in-person gathering is led by Indigenous adult mentors and the Earth Guardians Indigenous Youth Initiative Committee and engaging with 25+ Native youth leaders ages 18-25 years of age from diverse tribes. This training equips each participant with the tools and confidence to inspire and lead other tribal youth, and their community members, to effect impactful lasting change in the areas of: traditional ecological knowledge, food sovereignty, environmental/social justice issues, reclamation of story, multimedia techniques, Native nation building, non-violent direct action, campaign development, cultural resilience and de-colonization. Youth participants are empowered in their own climate projects, learning valuable skills and building relationships with mentors and peers during the program.
Project Update:
The project's community was devastated by Hurricane Helene and working tirelessly to help the communities who were hardest hit by historical flooding. If you are able, please consider helping support their efforts there and around Asheville, North Carolina on their GoFund me page.
Moshi, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
The Amani-Kiladeda Farm project primarily serves a community of former street-connected children and vulnerable youth from abusive backgrounds residing at the Amani Centre for Street Children in Moshi-Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. These children are often marginalized, deprived of stable family environments, and denied access to basic health benefits, education and life skills. Through the farm project, they aim to improve the children's health and well-being by providing fresh produce, while equipping them with sustainable agricultural practices to promote self-sufficiency and future employability. In addition to directly benefiting the children by providing shelter, food and job training, this project is also designed with a strong focus on promoting environmental sustainability. The agro-ecological farming system implemented through the project encourages environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient practices. Its approach not only minimizes waste but also supports the farm’s long-term sustainability, ensuring the land remains productive and healthy for future generations.
Minneapolis & Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
FLOW (Food Liberation for Opportunities and Wellness) nurtures people through urban food hubs and the building of a network of food sovereignty. In this initiative, FLOW will be offering an Urban Food Hub for the metro Twin Cities area of Minneapolis & St Paul in Minnesota and distributing local, organic produce at no-cost to historically marginalized communities at a half dozen community events taking place from June-November 2025. The project will minimize the barriers to accessing healthy foods by creating a more organic FLOW within the local food system. So often, produce that is given away (for example, at food pantries) is from an unknown source, and the distribution of the food does not build relationship or community between the rural communities it comes from and the often urban communities where it is received. This project goes beyond healthy food distribution - its goal is to build networks of food sovereignty and deepen connections between rural and urban communities, specifically centering Black, Brown, Indigenous, Multi-Abled, and LGBTQ+ people. This project also seeks to weave the sharing of healthy produce with elements of art and culture.
Kadyalunda Village, Malawi
Ntchesa Primary School is located in Kadyalunda village of the Balaka District, located in the Southern part of Malawi. Kadyalunda is a large village of nearly 9,000 people, but due to the lack of funds, Ntchesa Primary school is only able to build and provide four classrooms for around 250 students. Without facilities for additional classrooms, older children must attend the Chendausiku Primary School, a 10 kilometer walk from Kadyalunda village. While the distance is a challenge in itself, the village of Kadyalunda is also located in one of the hottest districts in Malawi. The children, many without shoes, are required to walk in extreme temperatures on scorching ground to get to school. Challenges continue in the rainy season, with torrential rains and muddy roads, all affecting class performance and comfort.
Chendausiku Primary School has recorded 300 students from Kadyalunda village dropping out of school from 2023- 2024. The lack of direct and easy access to schools leads to early school dropout and an increase in unemployment rates and poverty in Malawi. The Ntchesa Classroom Block Project will support the construction of an additional classroom block near the Ntchesa Primary school which will greatly reduce the walking distance required to access educational services. The project mission is to reduce school dropout rates from 20% to 0% in the Kadyalunda village.
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Native Chicagoan and 16-year Major League Baseball veteran and All Star, Curtis Granderson, founded the Chicago Baseball and Educational Academy (CBEA) in 2016. When the CBEA was born, it provided community-based baseball and softball programs to enhance and enrich the lives of youth throughout the neighborhoods of Chicago. Since its inception, the CBEA has collaborated with more than 60 Chicago neighborhood youth baseball and softball organizations, giving over 6,000 Chicago kids a chance to play, learn, and grow at facilities on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) each year. The CBEA collaborates with neighborhood baseball and softball programs, offering local neighborhood teams the rare opportunity to practice in state-of-the-art university varsity fields and indoor practice facilities for free.
Through the “Girl Power” initiative, the CBEA has begun offering girls' fastpitch softball programming and skills clinics for girls aged 8 to 18, focusing on NCAA-level instruction and including social-emotional learning components. This initiative aims to provide free access to high-quality facilities and mentorship, fostering a sense of belonging and inspiring youth to envision the possibility of higher education opportunities. CBEA has collaborated with over 60 local organizations, benefiting thousands of children annually and helping them stay engaged and off the streets while promoting diversity and inclusion in sports.
Chihota, Zimbabwe
Zambezi Ark Technologies (Zartech), a youth-led social enterprise, is launching the Chigubhu Lantern Initiative to address the critical need for sustainable energy and lighting solutions in Zimbabwe. This initiative is working to provide reliable and sustainable lighting for schools and enhance the quality of education through improved lighting conditions. This project provides sufficient illumination for children in rural areas of Tanzania to do their school work after sunset. While striving to expand access to clean and affordable energy, this project is also equipping young people with practical skills to combat climate change.
The Chigubhu Lantern, a solar-powered light made from waste LED components and plastic bottles, offers a durable and eco-friendly lighting solution. By teaching students how to build these lanterns, the initiative imparts valuable skills in waste management, circular economy principles, and renewable energy. A central component of the project is the Chiedza Solar Kit, a custom-made solar power solution capable of charging multiple Chigubhu Lanterns simultaneously, as well as powering other devices like cell phones and laptops. Ultimately, the Chigubhu Lantern Initiative aims to ensure “A Light For Every Student ”and “A Light For Everyone” while promoting environmental sustainability. By fostering a culture of resourcefulness and innovation, the project seeks to create a brighter future for Zimbabwean rural communities.
Pobè, Benin
The Bio Planet Fertilizer Project is an initiative of BIO PLANET TMC Ltd, an environmental sustainability social venture located in Pobè, Benin dedicated to promoting efficient and inclusive agricultural practices. They offer over 18,000 local farmers a quality granulated organic fertilizer, more accessible and inexpensive than traditionally used chemical fertilizers that have had harmful effects on the rural populations. This project supports farmland soil restoration, biodiversity and conservation, while increasing crop yields for local farmers in Pobè, Benin.
Kindia, Republic of Guinea
The Girls Shelter in Guniea is a project vision of Pathways To Peace (PTP) and their partners, War Against Poverty in Guinea, to end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kindia, Guinea within one generation. One of the steps in their ongoing effort is to continue to provide Shelter for Girls who are homeless as a result of bravely saying “no” to FGM. In this 2,000-year-old culture, 97% of girls in Guinea have become victims of this tortuous, traumatic and dangerous practice. The practice of FGM is deeply engrained in the culture with Guinea having the second highest rate of FGM in the world. This project envisions a change in Kindia that can, and will, positively impact girls and women now and into the future.
Kigali, Rwanda
The Resiliency Through the Ages' (RTA) project will unite eight youth with eight elders to co-create eight short films focusing on biodiversity resilience. The inspiration from the lessons these project leaders have learned from previous initiatives underscores the importance of intergenerational dialogue and participatory design in effecting climate action. This project’s mission is to document and share these critical stories, fostering deeper community engagement and influencing policy at local and international levels.
Niamey, Niger
This project aims to revive and sustain the Niger handweaving tradition, a symbol of national pride. For generations, these weavers have made beautiful, complexly woven cloth. Recently, the profession has been in decline and the highly skilled weavers lack access to materials, organization, and the urban market. This project is working to improve its artisans’ incomes while preserving cultural heritage by organizing the weavers into a cooperative.
Sabon Pegi Shabu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
This Sustainable Farming and BioGas Production Project aims to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability by implementing modern storage facilities for biogas and biofertilizer production. This initiative addresses local challenges like post-harvest losses and limited sustainable practices, fostering economic growth and environmental conservation. Community involvement in planning and maintaining the project will ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.
Capetown, South Africa
There are few schools for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) available in Cape Town, South Africa. As a result, children are having to travel long distances and often, families lack access to transportation. These challenges prevent many families from being able to accommodate their children’s specific educational needs.
Autism affects four major areas of development: language and communication, social interaction, thinking and behavior, and sensory processing. This project will provide transport to children with ASD, providing comfortable transport underpinned by stress-calming measures to ensure a productive learning experience at school and overall safety when commuting.
Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo
The Earth Guardians Indigenous Youth Initiative is a unique program focusing on uplifting Indigenous ways of life, voice and leadership, with a vision of bringing the planet back into balance and out of climate chaos. Every year this program plans a 7-day, in-person training, followed by ongoing support for the participating youth.
This in-person gathering is led by Indigenous adult mentors and the Earth Guardians Indigenous Youth Initiative Committee and engaging with 25+ Native youth leaders ages 18-25 years of age from diverse tribes. This training equips each participant with the tools and confidence to inspire and lead other tribal youth, and their community members, to effect impactful lasting change in the areas of: traditional ecological knowledge, food sovereignty, environmental/social justice issues, reclamation of story, multimedia techniques, Native nation building, non-violent direct action, campaign development, cultural resilience and de-colonization. Youth participants are empowered in their own climate projects, learning valuable skills and building relationships with mentors and peers during the program.
Project Update:
The project's community was devastated by Hurricane Helene and working tirelessly to help the communities who were hardest hit by historical flooding. If you are able, please consider helping support their efforts there and around Asheville, North Carolina on their GoFund me page.
Two Apurina communities in Boca do Acre and Baixo Pauni, in Brazil
The Indigenous Peoples of Brazil Water Project’s mission is to build drinking water wells for two Indigenous communities in Acre in Brazil: one in the Apurina community in Baixo Pauni and another for those living near Boca do Acre.
Meeting with the Apurina women near Boca do Acre in 2023, Co-Founder of the Planetary Healing Centre, Claudia Goncalves learned that they are without immediate access to drinking water and have to walk long distances carrying water for their families and home. Elders, mothers, and children have an endless task of carrying buckets of water every day while the men are working collecting Brazil Nuts. The Apurina community in Baixo Pauni is facing similar hardships. This community, comprised of 130 to 140 families, including children and elders, relies on an igarapé (a small stream) for drinking water, which is contaminated and causing illness. This project is in motion to provide wells to these two villages that are in desperate need of a sustainable source of clean water.
Saptari District, Nepal
Asikabew, Ghana
Transforming the Environment, Transforming Lives is an environmental sustainability initiative aimed at empowering the women and youth of Asikabew, a community located in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana, West Africa, through education. The initiative educates villagers on how to transform both natural and artificial waste products into reusable, eco-friendly products. The project initiative also provides a platform to sell their eco-friendly products to generate funds and improve their community living conditions.
