Ashoka
Ashoka Changemaker Schools
Ashoka’s Changemaker Schools are a global network of innovative schools empowering children and young people to become socially minded leaders who can solve problems and drive positive change.
United by a shared vision of every child growing up as a changemaker, these schools embed empathy, purpose and changemaking into their curriculum, culture and systems. In the UK and Ireland, our network of 30 Changemaker Schools demonstrates that reimagining education is possible in every context.
What is a Changemaker School?
Ashoka’s Changemaker Schools aspire to create a world where all children are empathetic leaders, capable of working in teams to solve problems for the good of all. Ashoka selected and supported schools that were ready and able to help lead the transformation in education. We work with these schools as thought partners to articulate this shared vision for education, amplify their best practices, and grow their impact by facilitating collaboration with Ashoka’s global community of leading social entrepreneurs, business leaders, and other innovators in universities, media, and many other sectors. Together, we can re-imagine, co-create and lead a transformation in education such that every child becomes a changemaker.
Changemaker Schools Share a Common Identity
Changemaker Schools span different ages, contexts and communities, but share three core characteristics:
- Empathy and Changemaking: They empower students to become active changemakers, embedding empathy and social responsibility into their curriculum, culture and systems.
- Innovation: They challenge established norms by developing and testing new ideas, fostering a culture of innovation across the school.
- Influence: They have the credibility, ambition and potential to inspire other schools and drive positive change across education.
The Role of Change Leaders
Changemaker Schools have an individual Change Leader within the school, who has the vision and characteristics to effectively guide institutional change, and leads a cross-stakeholder change team, which may include teachers, parents, students, staff and/or community members. This team is committed to working with the Change Leader to highlight and advance the school’s efforts to ensure students develop the skill of empathy.
Purpose Statement of The Change-leaders Community of Practice
“Advocating education practice that ignites the potential of educators and young people to become changemakers; in a way that increases individual and collective capacity for perspective, empathy and agency so that we can reframe success and meet the challenges of our complex world.”
Changemaker Schools in the UK & Ireland
Since 2017, we have stopped electing additional Changemaker Schools and we are focusing on developing synergies within the existing network, while building a shared community of practice. Meantime, we look for different ways to engage with like-minded allies in advancing our Everyone a Changemaker vision through Changemaker Education. If you are interested in getting in touch, please contact us at [email protected].
