Aid doesn't work. After decades of assuaging our guilt by handing out checks, the Western world is finally beginning to realize that all its money is doing more harm than good. It's going to corrupt governments who funnel it to their friends, or helping inefficient organizations produce research papers and conferences, not progress. It's not reaching the vast majority of Africans who still live below the poverty line. We need a new approach-one that teaches Africans to capitalize on their own initiative and ingenuity.

Duff Young is an entrepreneur-a Chartered Financial Analyst and founder of two successful companies. He chafes at inefficiency like a dog in a wool sweater in summer. At the Duff Young Foundation, we're using his business know-how to bring a capitalist's solution to the problems that aid couldn't fix.

We start with seeds: a kit of crops, tools, and information-developed in Africa-that allows rural farmers to combine their own knowledge with the best agricultural science to reduce costs and boost production. As farming communities develop, we'll provide training and microfinance to promote specialized occupations. Finally, we'll offer the tools and designs for Africans to build their own low-cost, attractive homes and secure real, high value property ownership. We work directly with entrepreneurs and farmers, rather than bureaucracies who diffuse responsibility. We require constant feedback-we hold community members accountable for hard work, and they hold us accountable for constantly improving our program. Finally, we emphasize cooperation through the sharing of seeds, tools, and knowledge, building community bonds from the bottom up. At the end of the process, we believe we'll have a sustainable model for rural economic growth, or as Duff likes to call it, an "economy of style."

We're not asking for donations, or for any money at all. Duff is so confident in our ability to invigorate entrepreneurs in Africa that he's staking his own money. What we do want is your participation. As we test our Sustainable Agriculture Kit, meet our potential customers, and begin our pilot communities in Liberia, the feedback of others is vital. Read our plans, comment on our blog and forum, or contact us directly to let us know what you think. Helping Africa doesn't take a fat checkbook-just a lot of willing hands and minds.