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Community for a Sustainable World (CSW)
Our purpose is to support and develop sustainable self-reliant communities around the globe.
ABOUT US
OUR PURPOSE
is to support and develop sustainable, self-reliant
communities around the globe.
OUR MISSION
Through our development goals, we provide locally sourced solutions based on the needs identified by our community partners.
WHO WE ARE
Community for a Sustainable World (CSW) is a Vancouver, BC based non-profit organization founded in 2014 by Alanah Morin, Nikki Thompson and Kiana Heighton.
Our purpose, mission and even our name, were born from a shared passion for the both planet and humanity. As an organization, we focus on providing long-lasting impacts inspired by the "teach a person to fish" school of thought. This ancient proverb has shaped our purpose and the philosophy lends itself as a crucial piece to developing sustainable, self-reliant communities. We recognize that the needs of our partners are diverse and unique therefore solutions are not one-size fits all. At CSW we work with communities to identify challenges and provide customized sustainable solutions.
We are proud to be an entirely volunteer run organization as this allows us to use 100% of the proceeds we raise to deliver our projects in a sustainable way. We love any opportunity to work with those who share our values, so if this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, let us know. We'd love to collaborate.
OUR MISSION
Through our development goals, we provide locally sourced solutions based on the needs identified by our community partners. These goals include:
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Sustainable Infrastructure
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Education & Skills
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Food & Water
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Waste Management
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Income
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Hover over the tiles below to learn more about our sustainability goals.
SUSTAINABLE
INFRASTUCTURE
Sustainable infrastructure refers to physical and/or organizational structures that support the long-term growth and function of a community.
OUR GOAL
We collaborate with communities to identify their infrastructure needs and provide the necessary resources required to meet and sustain these needs.
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EXAMPLES
Developing a Community Volunteer Program
FOOD & WATER
We believe secure and reliable access to food and water is a right that every community is entitled to.
OUR GOAL
We collaborate with communities to provide knowledge and technical assistance required to grow, harvest and store their own food and water.
EXAMPLES
INCOME
OUR GOAL
We leverage the skills, aptitudes, and resources within a community to generate a sustainable source of income.
EXAMPLES
EDUCATION
& SKILLS
We believe that every human being is entitled to education regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, location and socioeconomic status.
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OUR GOAL
We facilitate educational and skill-building experiences based on the needs of our community partners. With access to training and hands-on learning, our partners are able to maintain our projects and share their knowledge with future generations.
Examples
WASTE MANAGEMENT
We believe that waste is a resource. Embracing the principles of reducing and reusing is crucial to addressing human over consumption and moving towards a circular economy.
OUR GOAL
We work with partners to develop sustainable waste management systems that reduce, re-purpose, and divert community waste.
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EXAMPLES
Spring Clothing Drive
Coastal Cleanup
Biogas Project
OUR VALUES
COMMUNITY
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As one enormous collective of people on the planet, we believe that the uniqueness we each bring creates a diverse community of humans with so much to offer. Whether we dance, sing, write, run, bike or explore, even the smallest contribution to our community creates a ripple of change.
COLLABORATION
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Collaboration is working together to grow together. It means supporting one another to achieve and accomplish greatness. By collaborating with leading local professionals, organizations and experts in their respective fields, we create an opportunity to support the unique development and growth of sustainable and self-reliant communities around the globe. In partnering with organizations that share our four branches (our values) we can work together to make a positive change for the greater good.
EDUCATION
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We recognize that more than a third of the world has limited access to education if any. When we talk about education, we mean everything from skills training, sexual and health education, and of course, academics. By embracing a holistic educational approach, we believe that every member of our community can have equal and unbiased access to education throughout their lifetime.
SUSTAINABILITY
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Everything from the supplies we source, the way we market, the events we hold, the education programs we offer, the people we work with and the way we operate puts sustainability in the forefront. In other words, sustainability is something we’re truly passionate about. We don’t just support recycling and driving hybrids, we believe in long-term solutions for growth.
CSW commits to maintaining a focus on sustainability.