What is nice and cozy to you? In Puerto Lopez Ecuador, there’s a young Venezuelan man named Renny that everybody likes. Renny left his home country over 3 years ago, and has been getting to know the Ecuadorian locals by working any job he can find. For the past 9 months, he and his partner have been living in the tropical desert under a plastic tarp. Life is not easy for many refugees, even when you're a hard working go-getter and well respected.

Tippy Taps are the best! In many parts of the world there is no running water. But of course washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds before handling food and after using the bathroom is important everywhere. The simple but effective Tippy Tap uses very little water and can easily be put up near any kitchen or bathroom. A repurposed jerry can, a soda bottle, or a gourd with a couple of holes and a bar of soap with some string can literally save lives.

CPR for all! From the equator in South America to the equator in Africa, our Dr. Suzanne has taught life saving resuscitation and Automatic External Defibrillator classes that really gets the heart pumping. From firemen and the Red Cross, to nurses in refugee camps and the general public, and this week local lifeguards were shocked to learn about the magic of the AED.

Vodka is the best! A true and fearless team member of ours at A Ripple. She’s named Vodka because she’s Russian and strong. This 4x4 jeep has guided us into natural disasters before other help could arrive. Places and times when military and police declared no passage, over broken bridges and under flooded passes she would go, fearlessly into a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and across borders to help in disasters.