Service Project Examples
These sutures change color in the presence of bacterial growth, indicating that there may be an infection at the site of the injury.
A bowl made to be used by anyone who can only use one arm (due to injury, amputation, or even just holding a kid).
A pill bottle with intentional compartments that can help to avoid spilling pills on the floor if you have Parkinson’s (a disease that causes tremors).
This family created a pet door that allows their cat through, but not their dog. The dog has an RFID tag on its collar that closes the door when he walks near. Notice how messy this thing looks (clearly cardboard and tape, nothing fancy). Not everything you make has to be fancy. Basic and messy is fine, if it works!
This guy just donates his time and hard work. He goes around looking for lawns that are overgrown, and he cuts, hedges, digs, and otherwise cleans things up for free. Your Service Project really can just be doing things for people for free.
Solar Robots and Eco-Tinkering and Playing with the Sun
I’m putting these two in service because you could easily share it with kids near you or in underserved areas and turn it into a service project.
Flipping Thrifted Socks and Cables into Heels
Thrifting and flipping things in general can be a good Service or Passion Project.
This guy fills in big pavement holes with mosaic. This helps prevent tripping hazards and is really pretty too!
3D Printed Ultrasound for Blind Mothers
Just like it sounds, and a really touching thing. If you’re into 3D printing, there are SO many things you can 3D print that can serve so many different people.
This is a kid and his family. They grow Christmas trees, give you a tree, and then take it back after Christmas and replant it. That way, you could potentially rent the same tree next year! It also keeps the planet green.
Minecraft Library that Made Censored Journalism Accessible Around the World
Just like it sounds. You can make anything in Minecraft, so if that’s your big Passion, see if you can find a way to turn it into Service too!
Coffins Made From Mushrooms that Return You to the Earth
This 9th grader won first place in the America’s Top Young Scientist competition by creating a way to help people test their produce for pesticide residues.
A Few Winning Ideas in Computer Science from UW
Spanish Artists Decorate Shopping District to Help Cool it Down
This is a relatively simple idea. You just have to get a bunch of crochet fans together. But, also really practical and helpful to a lot of people.
Human Alarm Helps Fight Procrastination
This guy made a job out of making sure people get their stuff done. You could too.
Kenyan Woman Turns Trash into Bricks
Renting Houses to Temporary Workers
You could work to improve the design or try to get these installed in your city/town if your town suffers from flooding.
This was a teenager who made a ton of money simply by helping people name their babies. Check out the particular circumstances in the link.
This is a bit more of an Interesting Find. But, you could easily take this idea and go start installing them in neighborhoods that are clearly missing gutters or have broken gutters. That would help out those people, and you don’t even have to invent anything!
Yep! Even something like Bored Panda can help you find a Service Project. Like the wheelchair accessible picnic tables found in the link above, or the simple paper bags promoting environmentalism, or the Tip N Tell for shipping. Some things here are more cute, like the frilled-neck lizard pencil sharpener which could be a good Passion Project. Anyways, search for inspiration anywhere! Even when you’re bored-browsing.
Underground Parking Accessibility
This is just a problem without a clear current solution, but you could be the one to solve it!
Several Ideas for Helping Amputees
Foot protection from sand and dirt. Making prosthetic parts pretty.