Ashoka
In our new reality where everything is fast-changing, increasingly uncertain and interconnected, our children and young people will thrive only if their early exposure, orientation and education at home and in school sufficiently prepare them to be adaptive and get comfortable with change, uncertainty and diversity. Every child needs to master empathy to enable him/her to connect deeply and live in tune with the world unfolding around them. Every young person needs to practice a new form of leadership (everyone leading and contributing for the good of all), collaborative teamwork, sharing and learning in open and fluid networks of teams, and apply this new framework in creating solutions. By joining the “Everyone A Changemaker” movement and sharing the message and skills with millions of children and young people across Africa, parents, teachers, all adults, unions, companies, and the government become instrumental in shifting mindsets, changing attitudes and inspiring action for a better society and a better world. That’s the best gift that we can give to our children and the younger generation.
The New Education
Changemaking is the “new education”. It is the most essential skill for thriving in the world today. Education is no longer just about what students read in textbooks and get taught in school. For better or for worse, it is also increasingly about the messages and impressions that children and young people are exposed to every day via multiple platforms: TV, radio, YouTube, WhatsApp, Tik Tok, Instagram, music, art, cartoons, comics, storybooks, etc. The entire ecosystem around which children and young people grow up is, therefore, part of the “new education”: parents, teachers, schools, peers, media, social media, publishers, virtual platforms, ICT tools, the private sector, and the government. The “Everyone A Changemaker” movement builds and deepens partnerships around this ecosystem of growing up so that in a mindful and systemic way, we design and integrate changemaking into our education system and our culture. This is not theory; it’s already happening!
Ashoka Africa is currently working together with our global office, Ashoka-U, teachers unions, colleges and universities, among other partners and our network of co-leaders in Africa to develop an Everyone A Changemaker course for educators and students in secondary schools and universities. And we are not stopping there. We are also working with publisher partners including Lantern Books and Nigerian Publishers Association to co-create relatable content for educational books, guides, storybooks, and other resources in user-friendly formats for the blind, deaf, and physically challenged. Our media partners including Voice of Nigeria and TRACE TV are primed to play a vital role in shifting mindsets, changing attitudes and inspiring millions of people to own their power as changemakers by sharing stories, tools and relevant resources.
Staying Ahead in Business
Changemaking is foresight, innovation and adaptation. It means staying ahead of the game and shaping the future. In the new business environment, those who adapt better and faster excel; those who do not adapt struggle and often fizzle out. No doubt, the COVID pandemic has disrupted whole industries in many ways and has led many to adapt their business strategy, expectations, and rethink the way they do things. The good news is that changemakers have been in the business of disrupting systems and creating better ones long before the pandemic. Imbibing and spreading a culture of “Everyone A Changemaker” at the personal, group/team and organizational levels is not only a business necessity today but also a comparative advantage. A culture of changemaking enables businesses to be better able to adapt to shocks, manage risks, navigate change, uncertainty and complexity, and create new opportunities and markets. Ultimately, businesses are sustained by the people (customers and clients). Changemaking empowers everyone—women, men, girls and boys—to create a better life for themselves and their communities, thus improving wellbeing and human development, enabling people-oriented solutions, expanding economic opportunities and enhancing the purchasing power of millions more people on the continent. This translates to increased creativity and productivity, economic growth, and a competitive market. Everybody wins!
Making the “Everyone A Changemaker” Vision a Reality
To make such a movement a reality, changemaking must be a skill learned and practiced early in life and encouraged throughout society. This is why Ashoka and our partners in Africa are committed for the long term to empowering every African with the skills, knowledge, tools and resources to practice changemaking. As Africa emerges from the pandemic, the disruptions and inequalities that COVID has exacerbated will continue to impact our societies and economies in profound ways. The scale of the challenge that lies ahead requires a new framework: a new way of thinking and a new way of creating solutions for the good of all, one that involves understanding the root causes of a problem and creating innovative solutions that shift mindsets, transform the entire system and entire society. “Everyone A Changemaker” is that new framework.