When you look at the joy and goodwill expressed in Ishmael Beah's face it is hard to believe that he has experienced and participated in some of the worst atrocities known to man. Due to the commitment of some incredibly dedicated and caring human beings and his own personal development Ishamel was able to extract himself physically and mentally from the life of a child soldier. He is now actively working to raise awareness and commitment from global leaders to take action. He is living proof of the love and contribution that is hidden within the children indoctrinated in war . He has written a book (A Long Way Gone) and is actively working to raise awareness and commitment from global leaders to develop programs of rehabilitation and prevention. His is an incredible story of courage, human compassion and the unconquerable human soul.

Video from The Hour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4yhPSQEzo

Article from My Heros

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=UNICEF_Soldier_AP

Muhammad Yunus has created an incredible impact in the movement to end poverty through his groundbreaking work with Micro Credit. Read how his revolutionary bank The Grameen Bank has created an environment of trust and community support through its micro loan process. It all began with this Economics professor who felt deeply unsatisfied that the theories he was teaching were not making a difference to the starving masses in the streets surrounding his classroom. The Grameen Bank have now provided $4.7 billion dollars to 4.4 million families in rural Bangladesh and their efforts have resulted in the number of Grameen Bank members living below the poverty line dropping sharply to 20% (compared to 56% for comparable non-Grameen bank members).

Here are two great articles on Muhammad Yunus:

http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/meet/yunus.html

http://www.grameen-info.org/bank/bcycle.html

The story of Jack Davis and his commitment to stop the waste of leftover restaurant food is an inspirational and educational one for anyone. From a conversation with a waiter during a family buffet to the unanimous approval of the Lending a Helping Hand bill in the Senate Business Regulation Committee of the Florida State Legislature. It is a lesson for all of us to keep our eyes open and to be willing to make a contribution when the opportunity presents itself. Thank you Jack for your caring and commitment to society.

Here is a great article on Jack and his project:

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWeek/story?id=4123327

In her own words, Wangari describes her childhood as very ordinary fetching firewood and water for her mother. And yet, this ‘ordinary' Kenyan girl grew up to be an African environmental powerhouse. She became the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree, started the Greenbelt movement in 1977, stood up to beatings and imprisonment in her mission to raise awareness of environmental and human rights issues, was elected and appointed deputy environment minister in 2002 and won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004. This is an incredible example of what passion, vision, and unstoppable commitment can accomplish.

Here are two great articles on Wangari:

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=NPWinner_Teaches_Conservation_AP

http://www.norway.org/News/archive/2004/200405_nobel_peace_prize.htm

Panhandler, New York Triathalon athlete, rapper, entrepreneur, motivational speaker. Soulja is a man with a dream. He was born with misshapen arms and no legs but his mother was determined not to treat him any differently. He has grown up with the attitude: "You do good things and good things come to you". This man supplements his income through panhanding though he never asks for handouts. Instead people recognize him and stop to offer him something. He views his ‘job' as social networking. It seems he has taken this attitude of no handouts throughout his life. He has completed the New York Triathalon successfully as an effort to stay fit, rarely uses a wheelchair, has formed a rap band and has a dream to create his own record label. Read more about Soulja and think about what are you letting stop you from fulfilling your dream?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/nyregion/22training.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

http://www.halfasoulja.com/index.html