When it comes to improving ourselves and the environment that we live in, there is never a shortage of things that we can do. We can certainly put our own individual efforts in place, but we can also be guided by these apps that can make the process fun and social, on top of being easy to track. Here are some apps that aim to promote a better world for both people and the planet.
Tree Planet
Think that there’s nothing you can do to combat deforestation? Tree Planet will prove you wrong. This Korean mobile app plants a real tree on your behalf in areas affected by deforestation around the world. How does it work? Users play a game that challenges the player to grow a virtual tree.
The process begins with digging a hole in the ground to plant the seed. As it grows, the player must pat the tree to give it affection, defend it from loggers and sheep and take care of it with water and fertilizer. When the tree grows in the game, Tree Planet’s team of people will actually plant a real tree (your tree!) in the desert. The best part? You will receive email notifications with updates on your tree’s growth.
Tree Planet has already planted 30,000 trees throughout Mongolia, Indonesia, Africa and South Korea since its inception in 2010. Besides planting trees, they have also supplied water pumps to African children suffering from water shortages.
In association with World Vision, the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Unicef, Tree Planet finds corporate sponsors like Hanwha and ING to fund the tree and planting costs. They are currently working on expanding to all six continents and amassing in excess of fifty thousand users for the app.
Charity Miles
“Hit the Streets. Change the World” is the motto for Charity Miles, and they aim to do just that with this philanthropic app. Available for both iPhone and Android, Charity Miles measures the distance you’ve walked, jogged, biked, skipped or even roller skated to convert that into money you earn (from their corporate sponsors) to donate to the charity of your choice. Runners can earn 25 cents for each mile travelled, while those who ride bikes or use other (non-motorized) means of transportation earn 10 cents per mile. This may seem like a small amount, but think about how much you’ll contribute when you train for a marathon or when you go mountain-biking along a scenic route!
Feedie
Those with a penchant for photographing their meals will love this app. Besides merely sharing on Facebook and Instagram, you can add a philanthropic note to your photographic prowess by helping to feed hungry school children in rural South Africa with each shot. Participating restaurant will make a donation to the Lunchbox Fund with each food photo taken at their restaurants. The donation is equivalent to one meal and is backed by renowned chefs Mario Batali and Jamie Oliver as app ambassadors. Unfortunately, most participating restaurants are located in American or South Africa at the moment, but expansion is in the works to include more restaurants in the near future.
Recyclebank
Available on Android and iOS, Recyclebank is an excellent app that inspires and encourages people towards a greener future. This concept is simple: do your part by diverting recyclable waste from landfills and you will be rewarded. Recyclebank achieves this with a set of “interactive features”. These features are designed to improve the planet (even well beyond recycling!) and are allotted with a set number of points. Users will earn these points when they complete a task and the more features you can complete, the more points you earn. Once you’ve collected a certain number of points, you can convert them into currency for Recyclebank’s online sustainable goods marketplace, OneTwine, or other rewards partners. Users also have the option to turn points into a monetary donation to a local non-profit organisation.
Pay It Forward
Designed for iPhones and Androids, the official app of the Global Pay it Forward Movement encourages kindness and the generosity of good deeds by sending daily suggestions to users. These suggestions consist of simple and small acts users can carry out to impact on the lives of others. You can also keep track of your progress, which will empower you as you watch your kind gestures accumulate and thrive.
Users can also see where most good deeds are taking place with its world map feature. Furthermore, the Pay It Forward app contains a brilliant classroom section that targets one of the areas where encouraging good deeds is most crucial. Promoting a healthy learning and social environment for students, the app specifically designed daily deeds to emphasise kindness and anti-bullying in schools, making it an excellent tool for teachers and students.
Looking to create your own do-good and feel-good app?
If you have an idea that will encourage a better environment, give us a call at Appz. We can create your dream app, helping you make your mark on the world!