The world has experienced one of the biggest pandemics, and it’s still ongoing. The 14-day isolation restrictions have left many people unable to provide for themselves, with the elderly being hit the hardest by this new reality. Nonetheless, there are good people out there doing their best to help. The Sikh community, also known as the “Turbans of Australia,” spent over $4,000 Australian dollars on a food donation program to help.

Helping People In Need

People first in priority are the elderly, disabled and people who are at greater risk of serious complications from the virus. However, the Sikhs decided they would help anyone who calls for help. So far, 1.5 tons of food was donated to the Sydney residents who are unable to shop for basic necessities.

Home Cooked Meals

Another Sikh organization stepped in and delivered over 1,000 home-cooked meals for those in need, predominantly in the city’s southeastern neighborhoods. All the volunteers from both programs worked tirelessly for hours to provide enough food for anyone who called in.

The Big Apple Branch

The organization is also active in New York City. There are strict hygiene procedures for those handling the food. Everyone has to wear gloves and masks, keep a distance from each other, and sterilize the equipment and the surfaces. Similar to Australia, the packages are being delivered to people who are especially vulnerable to the virus. The volunteers are examined by physicians to ensure they are virus-free before heading out.

Working With The Government

Sikhism is a sector of faith that believes in a plant-based diet, therefore the meals consist of dried fruit, rice, and lentils.

In addition to the amazing work they’ve been doing, several Sikh organizations around the east and west coast are willing to work with government agencies to help distribute food and medicine to communities in need.

This is one of so many positive stories surfacing during this trying time, which goes to show that solidarity exists amid tough times.

In this increasing situation of global environmental pollution, the Nigerian people have ‘bottled up’ a unique construction idea for their house. Being among one of the most populated African countries, houses have always been a top priority in Nigeria. The villagers have come up with a creative solution and have created a new sustainable construction technology by using discarded plastic bottles as prime raw material for building their houses. This eco-friendly construction method is strong and durable, with the ability to withstand fire, earthquakes, and even bullets! Imagine that! According to Al Jazeera reports, this method is called bottle-brick technology, which makes the walls 18-times stronger than regular brick walls.

The Process

Mainly school drop-out or jobless youth are employed in these new house-building projects in the central state of Kaduna. They collect discarded plastic bottles to fill up with sand. Then the sand-filled bottles are stacked with the help of a traditional mud technology-based glue to construct the walls. Finally, the outside is secured with a crisscross patterned net. It results in a striking lattice pattern throughout the wall. Almost 14,000 plastic bottles are used to build a single house.

The Impact

With raw materials being almost free, these houses cost a third less than traditional housing prices in the region. These new affordable homes are offered for lower prices to help rural villagers. Staff at the Development Association for Renewable Energies are trying to secure more funding and expansion of the building technology enterprise. They are keeping faith in the Nigerian Government to do so, by pitching the project. This construction method is also gaining popularity among global environmentalists and green architects. Through this new recycling method, Nigeria is contributing benefits for the neighborhood and the planet as a whole, all in an exceptional and exemplary way.