Years ago we had a young woman Caedesian here, living in rural Kansas, who often bemoaned the lack of interesting things to photograph and submit to her gallery. I spent a little while explaining about all the macro opportunities open to everyone, pretty much anywhere, and she was happier thereafter. This is an excellent example for your novice.
If you've ever wanted to make a difference but found it hard to believe that one person could... check out the Kiva Team Caedes discussion thread and discover that anything is possible.