LET’S MAKE LIVELINESS GO GLOBAL…
One tiny village (and step) at a time.
A tiny village is a care community of 3 to 5 people. Tiny Village Project is here to create a caring and lively world by helping neighbors to connect, give and get support and learn to become healthier & happier!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if…
- You had neighbors who’d run quick errands for you?
- Or who’d bring you dinner when you’re sick or overwhelmed?
- Or who’d join you on walks or to start a project?
Wouldn’t it be more wonderful if…
- A world full of fun and helpful neighbors started now?
- And that you could do simple things to get it rolling?
- And could find purpose and energy in the process?
Rejoice ’cause Tiny Village Project is here to make “wonderful” happen.
Here’s how to get in on the action:
JOIN
Become a member of Tiny Village Project with your email address.
CLICK
Read our emails for quick tips and prompts to make BIG impact.
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Tell us your yays! or uh ohs to help other tiny villagers be successful.
TINY VILLAGE MATH:
(1.00)365 = 1.00
(1.01)365 = 37.7
Swiped from a tweet by Aperture Venture Capital, this math shows that doing a tiny bit more 365 days a year puts us way ahead of what we’re doing now. In other words, …
WITH CONSISTENCY, TINY CAN BECOME MIGHTY.
A waving ritual saved a neighbor’s life.
Hi, I’m Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Harmon, creator of Tiny Village Project. Here’s a story to show that tiny steps can hugely matter:
My mother met her neighbor at church. The neighbor lived alone and gave my mother her house key just in case. My mother and her neighbor waved to each other every day. But one day, the neighbor wasn’t in her usual spot. She was missing the next day too and didn’t answer her phone either. Sensing that something was wrong, my mother entered her neighbor’s house to discover that she’d fallen, couldn’t move and was close to dehydrating to death.
You may not literally save a neighbor’s life like my mom did, but you can easily become an “everyday” lifesaver. Or year-round merry maker!
FAQs:
Mary-E, do you think neighbors will be open to making villages?
I’ve found that neighbors are eager to connect but are waiting for someone else to make the first move. In my former condo, I gathered many neighbors and started simply by hanging a sign-up sheet near the mail boxes promising to share relevant information.
Can villages really improve our health and help us feel more lively?
Definitely. Firstly, making friends perks us up. Secondly, loneliness and isolation, which are prevalent around the world, are very hard on our health. Villages can increase social connection and thereby prevent things like dementia, stroke, heart disease and suicide.
What if my neighbors aren’t interested?
The beauty is that you only need to attract 2 or 3 neighbors to make a tiny village. How you do that is your choice. For example, you could make a tiny village around giving and getting help with pets. Or you could focus on having fun, which is serious business!
Is having fun truly serious business?
Yes, yes, yes! Play is essential for the health & well-being of people of all ages. According to the National Institute for Play, having fun—playing—is the healthiest way of spending our time after feeding and housing ourselves. And there a limitless ways to play!
Mary-E, what if I’m feeling shy and unsure about what to do?
If gathering people is new for you, it makes sense that you might feel hesitant. That’s why I’m starting Tiny Village Project: to learn and share tips and ideas to make village making easier for you, others and myself. I expect that soon you’ll be sharing tips with me!