The Empathy Ledger
World Tour
Communities around the world are already solving the problems everyone else is still holding conferences about. This is a six-month journey to find them, listen, and make sure they own every word.
12 stops. 8 countries. 4 continents. Stories told by the people who lived them.
Where We're Going
Already Solving It
Every community we visit has already built solutions the rest of the world is still commissioning studies about.
Sovereign Stories
Every storyteller owns their story. They control who sees it, how it's used, and whether it stays public. We hold it; they own it.
Listen First
This isn't a documentary. It's not charity tourism. We spend days with each community, listen before recording, and never publish without approval.
“Do these stories matter?”
It started in a tin shed in Queensland with an 80-year-old timber man. From the green hills of the hinterland to the red heart of the continent — proving the concept works at home first.
Witta, QLD
Where it all began. Barry Rodgerig opened his shed, his stories, and fifty years of lived experience on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Alice Springs, NT
Working with Central Australian communities on story collection, cultural protocols, and data sovereignty training.
Darwin, NT
Partnering with Top End communities and organizations to expand the storytelling network under the tropical canopy of the north.
Sydney, NSW
Connecting with urban Indigenous communities and diaspora storytelling projects in the harbour city.
“Are we the only ones?”
In Australia, we asked whether these stories matter. Now the question changes. A washing machine in Uganda. A waste cooperative in Kenya. A 20,000-year-old oral tradition in Botswana. The same pattern, everywhere: communities already solving it. Eight stops. Three continents. Six weeks.
Africa & Europe
Six weeks, three continents. Ubuntu in South Africa. San storytellers in Botswana. Maker spaces in Uganda. Cooperatives in Sweden. The same truth, everywhere: communities already solving it.
South Africa
Ubuntu in practice. Connecting with storytelling traditions, community justice projects, and the living memory of reconciliation.
Botswana
Ancient storytelling traditions meet modern community development in the Kalahari and beyond.
Kenya
Tech hubs and traditional storytelling collide in Nairobi, Mombasa, and the Maasai Mara.
Uganda
Maker spaces, youth cooperatives, breakdancing, and grassroots innovation in the Pearl of Africa. Travelling with local collaborator Siaka.
Sweden
Fika, folkhemmet, and the art of building community in the Nordic dark.
The Netherlands
Design thinking, social enterprise, and the Dutch tradition of radical collaboration.
Spain
Flamenco, oral tradition, and community resilience in Andalusia and beyond.
Scotland & UK
Ceilidh culture, social enterprise capital, and the Scottish tradition of radical hospitality.
Notes Along the Way
“A washing machine in Uganda and a cooperative in Sweden are solving the same problem: dignity.”
Dispatches & Stories
Writing, reflections, and stories from the communities we visit.
The Network
Communities and organisations already solving it — in their own words, on their own terms.
The Washing Machine Project
Ex-Dyson engineer building manual washing machines for communities without electricity. Providing dignity through accessible co-designed appliances.
Southern Africa
South Africa & Botswana - Ubuntu, Community Justice, Oral Traditions
Truth & Reconciliation Archive
San Storytelling Traditions
Community Justice Network
East Africa
Uganda & Kenya - Essential Goods, Youth Co-ops, Circular Economy
CDS Uganda
UCOBAC
AYADO
TakaTaka Solutions
Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund
FabLab Nairobi
FabLab Winam
Europe
Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Scotland - Circular Economy, Social Innovation, Cooperative Development
Holland Circular Hotspot
Fairphone
Coompanion Sweden
SIHI Sweden
Yalla Trappan
Forum for Social Innovation
Join the Journal
People & Organizations We Hope to Meet
Tier 1: Priority(5)
Navjot Sawhney
The Washing Machine Project
Founder & CEO
Ex-Dyson engineer building manual washing machines for communities without electricity. Active programs in Uganda (Kampala, Kyangwali) and Kenya.
Why connect: Natural alignment with GOODS approach to essential goods. Both use community co-design, address scabies/RHD prevention, and emphasize community ownership.
CDS Uganda Team
Community Development Shield Uganda
Youth-Led Organization
Youth-led organization fighting human trafficking and promoting community development in Uganda.
Why connect: Youth-led model aligns with storytelling focus. Strong community roots and advocacy experience.
KKCF Team
Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund
Enterprise Development
Supports 100+ refugee and host community businesses including manufacturing and recycling cooperatives.
Why connect: Potential for GOODS product testing in camp settings. Refugee-led enterprise model.
Freek van Eijk / Vesna Lavtizar
Holland Circular Hotspot
Director / Program Manager
National platform connecting 85,000+ circular economy initiatives globally.
Why connect: Gateway to global circular economy network. Connections to Fairphone, Mud Jeans, and similar social enterprises.
Coompanion Regional Teams
Coompanion Sweden
Cooperative Development
30+ years of cooperative development supporting 1000+ cooperative members.
Why connect: Proven cooperative methodology applicable to community-owned storytelling initiatives.
Tier 2: Regional Hub(7)
FabLab Nairobi
University of Nairobi
Maker Space / Innovation Hub
Maker space at University of Nairobi focusing on digital fabrication, STEM education, and community-driven innovation.
Why connect: Potential for co-design workshops and essential goods prototyping.
FabLab Winam
Lake Basin Innovation
Maker Space
Maker space serving Lake Basin Region with focus on female empowerment in STEM (ESTEM program).
Why connect: Gender-focused STEM programs and Juakali artisan marketplace connection.
Élida Nascimento & Marcos Júnior
Projeto Inclusão
Co-Founders
Favela-based education initiative transforming lives through non-formal education, sports, and culture since 2014.
Why connect: Powerful model for favela community storytelling and youth voice amplification.
Instituto Recicleiros
Recicleiros
Cooperative Incubator
National network supporting waste picker cooperatives with technical assistance and market access.
Why connect: Community-led recycling model with cooperative structure.
Gustavo Farruggia
La Higuera
Co-Founder
Cooperative rural health initiatives recognized by Ashoka. Co-design approach to community health solutions.
Why connect: Ashoka Fellow with proven community-led health model.
Tier 3: Extended Network(6)
Swedish Incubators & Science Parks
SISP
Innovation Network
National collaboration platform for Swedish innovation environments.
Why connect: Gateway to Swedish social innovation ecosystem.
Forum for Social Innovation Sweden
Malmö University
Research & Collaboration Platform
National knowledge hub for social innovation based at Malmö University.
Why connect: Academic research connections and methodology expertise.
Design Hub Kampala
AfriLabs Member
Innovation Hub
Co-creation space focused on social impact, job creation, and innovation.
Why connect: Creative hub for community-led design in Uganda.
EITA / Código Libre
Cooperativa EITA
Tech Cooperative
Worker-owned tech cooperative developing free software for social impact.
Why connect: Tech cooperative model for platform development.
Fairphone Team
Fairphone
Social Enterprise
Pioneer in ethical smartphone design with modular, repairable devices.
Why connect: Circular economy and ethical design inspiration.
Mud Jeans
Mud Jeans
Circular Fashion
World's first circular fashion brand with jeans leasing model.
Why connect: Innovative circular economy business model.
Know someone we should meet?
The Stories Already Exist
Communities have been solving these problems for generations. Subscribe to meet them — fortnightly dispatches featuring their voices, their work, their answers.
Want this for your community?
Empathy Ledger turns your community's stories into searchable knowledge, beautiful reports, and fundable impact evidence. No app install, no training required.
Free for community organisations