Walk the World.

In just 53 days, people in over 50 countries will walk to fight hunger. The UN World Food Program is organizing the Walk The World event for May 21, 2006 in order to "raise the funds and awareness we need to end child hunger". Here's how you can get involved:

* Walk in your area to raise money and awareness. If there's no organized walk in your town, plan one!

* Donate to the World Food Programme and feed a child. Donations in Canada, US, and Japan are tax deductible.

* Click the bright orange button and trigger a donation (free to you) that will provide a child a free school lunch. I click everyday.

So Walk the World. It's another great way to walk with a purpose.

"Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you." - Wayne Dyer

Nurse America to health.

Nurses for America has joined with AmeriCorps to "make a difference in the health of Americans across the country". Their mission:

"to increase access to nursing care for underserved, vulnerable populations and improve the quality of health care services delivered by community health centers and state and local public health agencies. Nurses for America will enhance the knowledge and skills of nurses to provide care in these settings and for these populations, while promoting service and civic engagement."

What a wonderful way to serve! Registered nurses can sign up for a two-year salaried position at a community health center, faith-based neighborhood clinic or public health department. In addition to an education award and student loan deferment, participants receive a 2-week intensive training, mentorship, and continuing education. For more information, visit www.nursesforamerica.org or contact Nurses for America at (202) 687-4772 or NursesForAmerica@georgetown.edu.

This is one of many ways to spend two years in service or prepare for a Masters in Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service.

"Happiness is something that comes into our lives through doors we don't even remember leaving open." - Rose Wilder Lane

Design a better world.

Ever thought about how to design earthquake resistant schools? What about tsunami resistant homes? Inexpensive, but functional refugee housing? These and other design and architecture challenges are being met everyday by the folks at Architecture for Humanity. If you are an architecture or design student or professional, or if you just like good design, take note:

Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. Through competitions, workshops, educational forums, partnerships with aid organizations and other activities, Architecture for Humanity creates opportunities for architects and designers from around the world to help communities in need. We believe that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference.

If this sounds like the kind of work you like to support, check out these ways to get involved:

* Volunteer with AFH by spreading the word, fundraising, advocating and more.

* Donate either financially or in kind to support the work of AFH. They're non-profit so your gift will be tax-deductible.

* Learn more about humanitarian design and architecture. They even list socially responsible design education programs around the country.

* Buy cool stuff, and support AFH in the process.

Architecture for Humanity promotes "architectural responses to humanitarian crises". Their motto is "Design Like You Give a Damn". Sounds good to me!

"The best politics is right action." -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)