Thinking about donating books / clothes abroad? While the sentiment might be good, there are far better ways to help others.

One great example is a new non-profit called LivelyHoods in Kenya which helps locals earn money by selling local goods.

The LivelyHoods project, which began in Kawangware, a densely populated urban slum about nine miles (15km) from Nairobi, is designed to create employment opportunities by training young people to sell products tailored to the needs of their communities. Cornerstones of the scheme’s iSmart brand include fuel-efficient cookstoves, of which 3,233 have been sold so far, as well as solar lamps and reusable sanitary products for women. All the products are vetted for their suitability, first by the LivelyHoods sales team and then by potential customers.

Here is founder Maria Springer to explain: