We love hugs. Hugs are an excellent way to stay warm and happy. As our Cuddle video shows, hugging is universal – anyone can do it regardless of size, shape, race and age.
This is why Hug It Forward is on to something good. Hug it forward is a non-profit that aims to unite people through the power of a hug. When people hug they have the option to donate to the cause, which is helping communities build schools from plastic bottles in Guatemala. Hugging for raising cash and then putting it towards an all-consuming idea is such a green thing.
The plastic bottle schools are made from non-biodegradable trash collected from around a community by locals. Once enough material has been sourced, the construction begins and the building process is something owned and run by the people in the community. The concept of bottle schools was pioneered by Pura Vida and over time has become a popular building method in the developing world.
Hug It Forward has some pretty cool ‘Hug Tracking’ technology that lets people track chains of hugs that they’re a part of. People can register their hugs to find out just how far their affection is spreading. Anyone can start a hug chain.
To date, Hug It Forward has helped built schools and passed on 543 hugs. It’s a lovely idea, spreading the love one hug and one all-consuming school at a time.
Hug someone today – for human heat and to hug it forward.
Katherine Hui is currently the Social site editor at Green Thing, a web-based public service in London that inspires people to lead greener lives through creative content.
Before this, she worked as the Development Manager at Social Innovation Camp, an organization that encourages people to use web and mobile-based technology to mobilise social change. She oversaw 300 ideas submission and helped build 20 prototypes – five of which have gone on to get further funding or investment.
Katherine’s came over to the UK form Canada in 2007 for an MSc program at the London School of Economics. Before arriving in London, she managed a small environmental start-up in Vancouver called the Canadian Climate Change Alliance.
Katherine is football mad. She is a loyal supporter of Arsenal FC, plays for Islington Borough Ladies FC and coaches for Gunners in Islington in her spare time. Her second favourite hobby is kite surfing and she can sometimes be found chasing the wind.
