Tag Archives: income

Creating New Markets for Tribal Art

Chandrakali Pushyam (far right) of the Gond tribe participates in a Roots Studio workshop alongside fellow artists and tribal members in 2016.
Photo credit: Poshali Goel / Roots Studio

Stanford Social Innovation Review | Winter 2018

In 2009, Chandrakali Pushyam was spending her days fishing, farming, grazing cattle, and taking care of her family. But when her husband, an indigenous artist from the Gond tribe, unexpectedly died that year, Pushyam suddenly had the sole responsibility of supporting her parents, in-laws, and two children. “I didn’t know how to handle the situation, so I started looking at my husband’s [art] and painting in his memory,” remembers 37-year-old Pushyam, who lives in rural Madhya Pradesh, a state in India.

This story appeared in the print edition of Stanford Social Innovation Review magazine as well as online. Continue reading the story here.

Algae for Food and Green Jobs

Stanford Social Innovation Review | Spring 2018

Spirulina tanks on a rooftop in Thailand.
EnerGaia grows spirulina on rooftops in Thailand—as well as in other underused spaces—as a way to maximize land for sustainable food production. Photo credit: EnerGaia

Growing the blue-green algae spirulina, an increasingly popular “superfood,” doesn’t just yield a nutritious dietary supplement. It also combats climate change and, due to advances in the way it’s produced, can give individuals with limited resources a new way to generate income. “Spirulina is packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, and can make a real impact on food security and sustainability,” says Saumil Shah, the founder of EnerGaia, a company that grows the microalgae.

This story appeared in the print edition of Stanford Social Innovation Review magazine as well as online. Continue reading the story here.