As the September 2016 social good trends reveal, highly publicized events such as the Syrian refugee crisis and the controversy surrounding the Rio Olympics have spurred the public to create many meaningful changes.
As the war in Syria rages on, many people have looked for creative ways to continue advocating for refugees. One of the most powerful examples of these initiatives is a graffiti portrait by the anonymous UK artist Pegasus. The powerful work of art depicts the image of a young Syrian boy whose face has become a symbol of the ongoing crisis.
Another current event that has become a catalyst for social change is the Rio Olympics. As evidenced by the September 2016 social good trends, the athletic championship has helped to shed light on some of Brazil's most pressing social issues. As a result of the attention brought on by the Olympics, initiatives have been launched to redirect leftover food to the hungry and to revitalize sports programs in low-income areas.
Top 90 Social Good Ideas in September
From Anti-War Street Art to Charitable Olympic Donations:
Katherine Pendrill — Sep 25, 2016 — Social Good
90
Elevated Native Forests
'Hanging Meadows' Would Reclaim the NY State Pavilion as a Natural Museum
89
Social Public Restrooms
Rohan Chavan's 'The Light Box Restroom for Women' is a Safe Space
88
Slow Fashion Online Stores
This Slow Fashion Shop Focuses on Sustainability and Fair Trade
87
Anti-Extremist Web Content
AverageMohamed's Social Media 'Counter-Narratives' Can Fight Hate
86
Candy-Themed Coding Games
The 'Glicode' App is Pocky's Attempt to Teach Kids about Coding
85
Anti-Poaching Vessels
Sea Shepherd's Mighty 'Ocean Warrior' Will Prevent Illegal Fishing
84
Parody Pop Ads
In Reference to a Cindy Crawford Pepsi Ad, 'SumOfUs' Reveals the Brand's Eco Damage
83
Body Positive Movement Hashtags
A Plus-Size Blogger Got Women to Embrace their Shape on Twitter
82
Conflict Awareness Cafes
International Alert's 'Conflict Cafe' Explores Lebanon and Sri Lanka
81
Anti-Body Shaming Letters
Plus-Size Model Ashley Graham Speaks Out in an Essay for 'Lenny Letter'
80
Anti-War Street Art
An Artist Painted a Haunting Image of an Injured Syrian Boy
79
Fashionable Feminist Pins
The 'Wildfang x I Am That Girl' Collection Celebrates Female Empowerment
78
Water Crisis VR Films
charity: water's Virtual Reality Event Tells a Powerful Story About Water
77
Social Good Snack Clusters
Project 7's 'Good Squared' Promotes Good Health and World Change
76
Body Positive Fashion Editorials
Liz Black Shows Off Garments with Sample Size Measurements
75
Climate Change Video Games
'ECO' is an Environmental Game for Children by Strange Loop Games
74
Female-Only Bike Clubs
The 'Bad Girls Bike Club' is a Safe Space for Women to Learn About Cycling
73
Theological Debate Apps
The Atheos App Helps Atheist Debate God's Existence With Believers
72
Charitable Bottled Artwork
This Artistic Campaign Promotes a Charity and the BFG Movie
71
Charitable Travel Platforms
'Kind Traveler' is a Booking Platform That Supports Local Causes
70
Megastructure Shanty Towns
Designer Olalekan Jeyifous Imagines Poverty-Stricken High-Rise Towers
69
Aromatic Fairtrade Chocolates
These Ethical Chocolate Bars Come in Three New Gourmet Flavors
68
Apocalyptic Antarctic Apps
This Interactive Game Spells Out the Plight Of Antarctica's Penguins
67
Social Good Selfie Walls
Cadillac Fairview is Launching 'Pledge Walls' for Back-to-School Season
66
Charitable Special-Edition Beers
The Lola Beer Was Designed to Raise Cancer Awareness and Funds
65
Portable Rescue Backpacks
This Backpack Could Be Life-Saving for Those Who Partake in Risky Sports
64
Educational VR Mapping Games
'Verne: The Himalayas' Teaches Kids About the Eastern Mountain Range
63
Green Urban Planning Games
Urban Climate Architect Lets Players Build and Protect Their City
62
Educational Shark Books
'Smart About Sharks' Teaches Kids and Adults Fun Shark Facts
61
Linguistically Derived Translators
The Ludwig Search Engine Helps Users Write English Phrases
60
Data Social Networks
Data.wold is a Collaborative Social Site Specifically for Data Scientists
59
Augmented Reality History Apps
This Pokemon Go-Inspired App Helps You Get To Know Moscow
58
Poverty-Inspired Diets
Jal Gua's Owner Bases Food Offerings on His Experience as a Child Soldier
57
Heart-Wrenching Animal Abandonment Ads
Havas Genève Shows Why Pets are Often Left Forgotten
56
Homeless-Employing Vans
This Employment Initiative Pays the Homeless to Clean the Community
55
Meditative Wildlife Soundscapes
'The Great Animal Orchestra' Sheds Light on Threatened Wildlife
54
Robbery-Alerting Apps
The 'Bank Robbers' App Informs You Of Financial Heists In Your Area
53
Identity-Celebrating Ads
This Clairol Hair Color Ad Stars Transgender Model Tracey Norman
52
Culture-Connecting Kiosks
The American Museum of Natural History Uses Digital Totems to Share Data
51
Reinvigorated Sporting Sites
Nike Partnered with the City of Rio to Revitalize Sports Programs
50
Terrorism-Tracking Apps
This Smartphone App Helps You Defeat Terrorism Through Information-Sharing
49
Campus Beekeeping Programs
MacEwan University is Raising Bees on Top of Campus Buildings
48
Queue-Monitoring Devices
The Qubie Device Can Track and Display Wait Times at Polling Stations
47
Charitable Athlete-Inspired Headphones
AfterShokz Looks to Raise Breast & Ovarian Cancer Awareness
46
Accessible Comic Book Stores
This Online Comic Book Store is Optimized for Blind Customers
45
Protesting Art Installations
'Hypotopia' is a Model City in Protest of a Major Bank's Bailout
44
Coffee Shop Adoption Initiatives
The Kitsap Humane Society is Taking Adoptable Dogs to Starbucks
43
Anime Charity Stickers
'Line' Released Pokémon-Themed Stickers and All the Proceeds Go to Charity
42
Charity Selfie Apps
The CR7 Selfie App Lets Users Take Selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo for Charity
41
Body Positive Athlete Illustrations
Wendy Fox Draws Female Athletes to Show Different Body Types
40
Flexible Online Private Schools
'Virtual Learning Academy' Students Equal Peers in Physical School
39
Anti-Abuse Beer Ads
'Cerveza Tecate' Defines Men By How They Treat Women in This Commercial
38
Rubber Duck Races
The 'Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby' Fundraises for the Special Olympics Illinois
37
Charity Whisky Auctions
Master of Malt is Raising Funds for 'Malaria No More UK' with an Auction
36
Memorial Anti-Bullying Apps
The 'Amanda' App Makes People Empathetic to the Effects Of Bullying
35
Celebratory Mars Rover Games
'Mars Rover' is a Cute Simulation of the Curiosity Rover's Mission
34
Revived Bucket Challenges
Klick is Reinstating the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with a Twist
33
Replaced Gun Emojis
Following Recent Gun Violence Issues, Apple is Opting for a Water Gun Emoji
32
LGBT Kissing Marathons
Following a Homophobic Occurrence, a Couple Hosted a Statement-Making Event
31
Gamified Campus Tours
This University Incorporated Pokémon GO into Its Campus Tours
30
Feminist Presidental Essays
Barack Obama Explained the Damage of Gender Stereotypes for Glamour
29
Anti-Poaching Events
The L.A. Zoo is Celebrating World Elephant Day 2016 with an Educational Event
28
Karma-Inspired Community Donations
The Little Free Pantry is Uniting an Arkansas City With Charity
27
Anti-Discrimination Apparel Lines
Grindr's Varsity Collection Raises Funds for Anti-Discrimination
26
Social Media Coding Apps
'Vidcode' Teaches Girls to Code by Incorporating Social Media Tropes
25
Empowering Athlete Campaigns
Dove Combats Media Sexism by Exposing How Female Athletes are Covered
24
Weather Anchor-Inspired Burgers
Shake Shack's New 'Roker Burger' Honors Al Roker
23
Child-Focused Entrepreneurial Events
'Kid Talks' Inspire Young Attendees to Reach Goals
22
Charitable Airplane Meal Donations
OzHarvest Brisbane Collects Untouched Food For Those in Need
21
Charitable Food Apps
The 'Got Food?' App Directs Users to Food Banks and Soup Kitchens
20
Student-Taught College Courses
Oberlin's Experimental College Offers Unconventional Classes
19
Charitable Olympic Donations
Chefs in the Olympic Village Are Donating Food to the Underprivileged
18
Fiscal Lobbying Apps
The WageEngage App Helps Business Owners Fight Minimum Wage Hikes
17
Activism-Oriented Bots
The StayWokeBot on Twitter Supports the Black Lives Matter Campaign
16
Anti-Abuse Gift Registries
Myer's 'Give Registry' is a Gift Registry with a Social Good Twist
15
Inconsiderate Donor Ads
'Donate Life' Shows Even Rude People Can Save Lives with Organ Donation
14
Dramatic History Apps
This Czech App Brings History to Life In a Striking Manner
13
Pro-Transgender Magic Tricks
This Comedian Shows Viewers How US Bathroom Laws Don't Make Sense
12
Proactive Homeland Security Apps
This App Helps Indiana Residents Alert Authorities to Danger
11
Connective Charity Apps
The Qatar Charity App Helps Streamline Donation-Collection Activities
10
Accessible Accommodation Sites
Accomable Helps You Find Disability-Friendly Accommodations
9
Olympic Refugee Branding
'The Refugee Nation' Made a Flag and Anthem for the Olympic Refugee Team
8
Juridical Bail-Setting Algorithms
San Francisco Courts are Testing an Algorithm to Modernize Bail
7
Environmentally Focused Artworks
'Beyond Form' Criticizes the Global Response to Climate Change
6
Empowering Muslim Campaigns
Hijup.com Shows How Women Wearing Hijabs are Fighting Controversy
5
Anti-Police Brutality Campaigns
Campaign Zero's Star-Studded PSA Addresses US Racial Injustice
4
Police Department Dessert Giveaways
Operation Polar Cops Aims to Improve Relations with the Police
3
Crowdsourced Infrastructure Apps
This App Helps New Jersey Residents Report Infrastructure Issues
2
Animal Rights Video Games
The Game is Based on The Smiths' 1985 Album 'Meat Is Murder'
1
Comprehensive Clinic Commercials
The New Planned Parenthood Ad Reveals the Clinic's Many Services
Related Ideas
Smart Anti-Theft Backpacks
The Zippers of the ABC Backpack Can't Be Opened Without Being Unlocked
Sleek Ergonomic Backpacks
'Keep Pursuing''s 'Zero-G' is Incredibly Durable & Comfortable to Wear
Ultra-Utilitarian High Fashion
HÆRVÆRK's Futuristic Fashion Designs Reimagine Fabric Use
Political Parody Portraits
These Strange Donald Trump Artworks Represent How Some See Him
Village-Inspired Cafe Packaging
Tiziano's Playful Branding Takes After Architectural Structures
Retro Arcade Apparel
BLUE HEROES Created a Collection of Pac-Man Clothing and Accessories
Commemorative Metallic Sneakers
Nike Released a Gold Air Force 1 Model in Time for the Rio Games
Elevated Native Forests
'Hanging Meadows' Would Reclaim the NY State Pavilion as a Natural Museum
Inexpensive Electric Bikes
A Fundraising Campaign for These Bikes Delivers Them Upon Ordering
Modular Military Backpacks
'Colfax Design Works' Creates Carriers That are Durable and Ergonomic
Battery-Holding Backpacks
This Charging Backpack Forgoes the Need to Constantly Be Around Outlets
Snapshot Adoption Campaigns
Tomba Latas' Adoption Project Uses Snapchat to Introduce Rescues
Candy-Themed Coding Games
The 'Glicode' App is Pocky's Attempt to Teach Kids about Coding
Rideable Vehicle Suitcases
The Modobag Offers Motorized Luggage That Consumers Can Travel on
Fashion Icon Emojis
Iris Apfel's Emojis Represent the Fashion Icon's Unique Style
Vodka Cafe Pop-Ups
Grey Goose Opened a Pop-Up Vodka Bar, Cafe & Bakery in New York
Minimalist Travel Sets
This Compact Travel Set Makes It Easy to Carry Necessities While Commuting
Creator-Commemorating Sneakers
Vans' Van Doren Collection Celebrates the Brand's 50th Anniversary
Twisted Urban Farms
The 'Hybrid Farm Apartment Building' Concept Maximizes Sunlight Access in NYC
House-Sharing Design Studios
'Samara' is a New Design Studio Division from Airbnb
Robotic AI Toys
The 'Woobo' Looks Like a Furry Monster but It's Also an Educational Toy for Kids
Augmented Reality Architecture
Greg Lynn Utilizes VR Software to Design Layouts Prior to Building
Diverse Olympic Posters
There are 13 Official Posters for the 2016 Rio Olympics
Anti-Body Shaming Letters
Plus-Size Model Ashley Graham Speaks Out in an Essay for 'Lenny Letter'
Cotton Candy Ice Cream
Milk Train Cafe Serves Ice Cream on a Cloud of Cotton Candy
Fashionable Feminist Pins
The 'Wildfang x I Am That Girl' Collection Celebrates Female Empowerment
Feminist Beer Branding
This Labeling Was Designed to Oppose the Sexualization of Women in Media
Residental Rooftop Gardens
This Vietnamese Home Features an Expansive Garden on Its Roof
Bucket-Like Outdoor Lamps
These Bright Outdoor Lights are Lightweight and Rechargeable
Massive E-Sports Bars
'Raiders E-Sports Centre' Has Over 30 HD TVs and 7,000 Square Feet of Space
Alternative Milk Chocolates
'The Mast Brothers' Make Unique Goat and Sheep Milk Chocolate Bars
Summery Beer Packaging
These Summer Ales are Packaged in Limited-Edition Bottles
Levitating Quantum Race Cars
The QMR Offers a Futuristic Vehicle That Hovers Around the Race Track
Citrusy Sugarcane Drinks
Sugarcane Island Blends Its Sugarcane Juice with Lime
Anime-Themed Fitness Apps
The PokeFit App is the Supplementary Fitness App for Pokemon Go Users
Parody Campaign Ads
The 'Hillary Clinton: Meme Queen 2016' Ad Has a Fake Hillary Acting Out Memes
Restored 1920s Bowling Alleys
'Highland Park Bowl' is a Historically Accurate Recreation
Animal-Themed Beer Labels
Italy's 'Brewery Beer In.' Revamped Its Branding to Become Competitive
Portable Backpack Coolers
The Igloo Cooler Welded Bag Offers a Wearable Design for Long Treks
Amphibious Purification Pavilions
'Foram' is a Coastal Building Designed to Cleanse Local Water
Bluetooth Bike Bells
This Cycling Accessory Provides Safer Routes, Traffic Updates and Much More
Smart Filtration Appliances
The Aquaautomat Provides a Digital Way to Track Water Cleanliness
Pool-Level Sunken Dens
The 'Brighton 2' House Features a Sunken Living Room Adjacent to the Pool
Concealed Compartment Swimwear
Lagoa's Beach Bikinis Include Hidden Pockets to Hold Personal Items
Educational VR Mapping Games
'Verne: The Himalayas' Teaches Kids About the Eastern Mountain Range
Festival Tent Cafes
This Lavazza Shop Shares Barista-Made Coffee at a Festival
Tech-Free Teahouses
The Camellia Sinensis Teahouse is Free from Cellphones and WiFi
Kid-Friendly Electronic Kits
The Snap Circuits Jr. Makes Learning About Basic Electronics Easy
Gadget-Insuring Apps
This Insurance App Offers Pay-As-You-Go Technology Insurance Plans
Durable Child-Friendly Cameras
This Weatherproof Camera Was Built to Withstand Harsh Conditions
Whiskey Brand Headphones
Skullcandy and Jack Daniel's Created Special-Edition Headphones
Comedic Job Announcements
This Woman's Job Announcement is a Parody on Marriage Proposals
Razor-Sharp Building Designs
'Torre Reforma's' Facade Looks Like a Blade Slicing into the Sky
Compact Waterproof Flashlights
The Touch 1k is Marketed as the "Last Flashlight You'll Ever Need"
Poverty-Inspired Diets
Jal Gua's Owner Bases Food Offerings on His Experience as a Child Soldier
Anime Monster Emoticons
The Pokémoji Keyboard Turns Pokemon into Smartphone Emojis
Political Meme Generators
'MemeTheVote' Helps to Create Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Memes
3D-Printed Campus Maps
This Tactile Braille College Map Was Designed for the Visually Impaired
Tech-Free Camping Experiences
The OffGrid Event Helps Participants Escape Their Digital Devices
Discounted Food Apps
This App Helps Customers Prevent Food Waste While Saving Money
Chat-Based Retail Apps
The Lookup App Helps Indian Consumers Chat With Local Businesses
Streamlined Staffing Apps
The Inploi Job App is Targeted Towards the Hospitality Industry
Branded Croquet Events
Pimm's is Running 'Pimm's Cider Cup' Croquet Games for the Public
Lunchtime Meditation Sessions
The Aman Spa Holds Meditation Classes for Stressed-Out Professionals
TweenMessaging Apps
The Disney Mix App is Targeted Towards Tweens and Their Families
Criminal Car Rental Ads
This Commercial Features Prisoners Escaping with a Rented Car
AR Recycling Apps
The 'Recycling Starts Here' App Works In Conjunction With Marked Recycling Bins
Pumpkin Beer Chocolates
Salazon Chocolate Co. and Flying Dog Brewery Co-Created a Unique Treat
Scanning App Commercials
This Commercial Was Created for a Scanning App Targeted at Students
Student-Targeted Fragrance Campaigns
The Ecko Unltd. 72 Campus Tour Targeted College-Age Men
Charity Selfie Apps
The CR7 Selfie App Lets Users Take Selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo for Charity
Personified Food Pop-Ups
This Human Fast Food Vending Machine Surprises People at a Laundromat
Anti-Abuse Beer Ads
'Cerveza Tecate' Defines Men By How They Treat Women in This Commercial
LGBT Streaming Apps
The Revry App Focuses On Streaming LGBT Multimedia Content
Checkered Concrete Banks
'Banque Libano Francaise' has a Checkerboard Facade and Built-In Gardens
LGBT Motherhood Vlogs
Mommy Squared's 'Marriage After Kids' Video is Honest and Relatable
Lightweight Hockey Jerseys
The Team Canada Nike Uniform Enhances Mobility & Minimizes Distraction
Slumber-Inducing Sound Apps
The iHome Zen Offers Meditative Audio for the Home
Local Courier Apps
The Bringr App for Delivery is Like Uber for Sending & Tracking Parcels Nearby
Hospital-Sterilizing Robots
This Robot Uses Ultraviolet Light to Clean Hospital Rooms
Sailing-Inspired Olympic Pavilions
'Heart of Denmark' is a Gathering Spot for Danes at Rio's Games
Ergonomic Surfboard Knapsacks
The Koraloc Surf Backpack Makes It Easy to Bring Board to the Beach
Celebratory Mars Rover Games
'Mars Rover' is a Cute Simulation of the Curiosity Rover's Mission
Meditating Sleep Platforms
Zen Guided Meditation Uses Quotes and Sounds to Help Induce Slumber
Messaging Travel Bots
Skype's New Skyscanner Chat Bot Offers Flight Advice Within the Platform
Magazine-Branded Campus Tours
The 2015 Essence College Tour Aimed to Inspired College Students
LGBT Kissing Marathons
Following a Homophobic Occurrence, a Couple Hosted a Statement-Making Event
Personalized Telecom Apps
This App Helps Grameenphone's Customers to Take Advantage Of Deals
Pattern-Enriched Coffee Packaging
Coffee Inn's Brand Identity Features Bold and Geometric Graphics
Video Game-Enhancing Sneakers
The Vixole Matrix Shoes Vibrate When the Wearer is near Pokémon
Literary Popcorn Snacks
This Joe & Seph's Popcorn Takes After 'Frobscottle' from The BFG
Anime Hunting Game Features
The New 'Nearby Pokémon' Feature of Pokémon Go Makes FindingAnime Easy
Sterile Ultraviolet Kettles
Xiaomi's Super Filter Kettle Filters and Sterilizes Drinking Water
Karma-Inspired Community Donations
The Little Free Pantry is Uniting an Arkansas City With Charity
Maternity Emoji Apps
The EmojiMom App Helps Mothers Communicate Emotions Related to Motherhood
Multi-Storey Restaurant Towers
This Project Proposal Aims to Create Eight Storeys of Restaurants
Branded Anime Beverages
These Pokemon-Inspired Starbucks Drinks Take After Popular Characters
Monochromatic Craft Soda Bottles
These Craft Sodas Fuse Unique Flavors and Minimalist Packaging
Campus Tour Hiring Campaigns
'Solve' Set Up a Small-Scale Office on Various College Campuses
Boundary-Pushing Olympic Ads
Nike's 'Unlimited' Campaign Goes Beyond the Brand's Signature Tagline
Element-Proof Phone Cases
Bellroy's Protective Phone Cases Now Come in New Sizes
Anonymized School Security Apps
The QuickTip App Lets Users Anonymously Alert School Police
Illuminated Bluetooth Speakers
These New LG Speakers Offer a Mix Of Durability and Compactness
Energized Drink Mixers
The Everly Energy Pouches Contain Naturally Caffeinated Beverage Blends
Compostable Meal Delivery Boxes
The Sun Basket Meal Delivery Service Uses Sustainable Packaging
Farmer-Focused Business Apps
This App Supports Farmers' Business Interests Via Big Data
Multi-Role Phone Commercials
Christoph Waltz Humorously Portrays the New Samsung Phone's Many Uses
Anime Recruitment Campaigns
Abell Pest Control Attracted Potential Employees with Pokemon Go
Charitable Food Apps
The 'Got Food?' App Directs Users to Food Banks and Soup Kitchens
Kid-Driven Car Ads
BMW Korea Got Little Kids to Drive a Car Around a Race Track
Awe-Inspiring Olympic Ads
Visa's 'The Swim' Ad Tells the Story of a Refugee Swimmer
Safety-Conscious Training Apps
Strava's 'Beacon' Feature Shows Contacts Where Users Are Training
Punctuality-Promoting Apps
The Bound App Encourages Punctuality Through Monetary Punishments
Fake Feminist Ad Agencies
Jane St. Shows How Brands Capitalize on Female Empowerment
Italian-Inspired Sandwich Menus
The Corner Bakery Cafe's New Menu Features Fresh Italian Toppings
Children's Room Surveillance Kits
The 'Rule Your Room' Set Lets Kids Take Charge of Their Privacy
Streamlined Expense-Reporting Apps
This App Makes Advanced Expense Management a Hassle-Free Affair
Forgettable Celebrity Ads
Footlocker Uses C-List Stars to Prove That It's Important to "Stand Out"
Inconsiderate Donor Ads
'Donate Life' Shows Even Rude People Can Save Lives with Organ Donation
Announcement-Translating Apps
This Translation App Works With Japanese Public Announcements
Biking Trail-Mapping Apps
The Trailforks App Offers a Mountain Bike Trail Database
Financial Management Apps
The SmartPath App Empowers Low-Income People to Better Manage Money
Familial Fast Food Commercials
McDonald's South Africa Focuses on Sibling Love in This Commercial
Romantic Robot Parodies
Robots Were Used to Create Famous and Romantic Parody Instagram Photos
Transgender Olympian Ads
The Nike 'Unlimited Courage' Ad Stars the First US Transgender Olympian
Crowdfunding Concert Apps
The 'Fanbassador' App Lets Music Fans Bid for Local Shows
Language-Inclusive News Apps
The New York Times' New App Caters to Spanish-Speaking Readers
Gourmet Mint Packets
Project 7 Packages Its Breath Mints in Resealable Packs of 12
Celebratory Burger Giveaways
Shake Shack is Celebrating the Opening of a New Store with Free Food
Millennial Voter Campaigns
Mic Has Released a #69thevote Ad Pushing Millennials To Vote
Gluten-Free Granola Mixes
Chex Granola Mix Now Comes in a Gluten-Free Variety
Multi-Stop Rideshares
The Lyft Multi-Stop Trip Now Lets Riders Request Multiple Stops On A Trip
Unifying Olympic Ads
The Nike 'Unlimited Together' Ad Features a New National Anthem