Urban initiatives

Niger: Four "H"s united for one goal April 11, 2011

The name "4H" is really a pure coincidence: these four colleagues from the same Mercy Corps project in Niger are called Hadiza, Halima, Hadiara and Hadiza.

Egypt: High above Cairo, deep in poverty March 31, 2011

High above Tahrir Square, 33-year-old Nagla Abdad watched the January 25th Revolution unfold. She had one of the best seats in the house for the first time in her life.

Egypt: Visiting Cairo's garbage city March 30, 2011

I recently visited Garbage City, a slum at the base of Mokkatam Hill on the outskirts of Cairo. Its economy revolves around the collection and recycling of the city's garbage.

Libya: Libya's impoverished back streets and slums March 11, 2011

Iraq: A soft spot in a tough place February 3, 2011

Kirkuk, Iraq is a hard place — but, in the middle of it all, there’s a soft spot for children.

Iraq: Finding the story January 30, 2011

I work with Awatif in southern Iraq, but we had to travel across the country to get to know one another.

Haiti: The challenges of clean water and sanitation in Haiti January 10, 2011

Indonesia: Bringing healthy street food to Tegal Alur December 27, 2010

“Hi friends! Come to My Child's Café… choose and get various healthy snacks here,” said a catchy jingle that played during over the grand opening of My Child Café and its healthy kitchen in West Jakarta's impoverished Tegal Alur neighborhood.