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An Invitation to Join #ChangeTheNow

In 2018 Georgian College, Canada’s first Ashoka Changemaker College, wanted to know if they could mobilize students from kindergarten to Post Secondary into a movement, effectively building a region of Changemakers. It was from here that #ChangeTheNow began.

Do Good to Do Well

#ChangeTheNow was created on the beliefs that small acts can lead to big change and collaborations can turn into largescale movements. We believe together students’, educators’ and communities’ ideas can spark systems shifts that make will make our communities greener, healthier, safer, stronger and more inclusive!

Will you join us in creating the positive change and contribute to 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals?

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

Join a Community of Changemakers

When you join #ChangeTheNow, you will enter into a global community of virtual changemakers, championing real-life positive social change in their local communities. Your goal will assemble an #ChangeTheNow Innovation Team and then chart your own changemaking journey, in bringing a social innovation idea to life.

Recent Activity

  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:55:23 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_prototype_test_reflection_70

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might the prototype & test stage help you with overcoming a fear of failure or challenging your assumptions about what is ‘right’?

    tori's Answer

    The Prototype and Test stage has taught me how to come up with an idea that I am passionate about and stick with it even when I run into obstacles. This stage has reminded me that there is no such thing as a wrong idea as long as we can support that idea with knowledgeable and accurate information. In the future, I will be able to use what I have learned from this particular stage to help me overcome a fear of failure because I now know how easy it is to make changes in order to get the solution that I am looking for. Before finishing this stage, I would have considered myself a perfectionist, however, I have learned that it is okay to make mistakes because mistakes can actually lead to bigger and better things.

  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:53:54 -0800 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_ideate_reflection_70

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might ideation help you develop your active listening skills to brainstorm and reflect on ideas effectively with your team?

    tori's Answer

    The” Ideate Stage” allows us to come up with a large quantity of ideas that we as a team can then choose which idea is the best to help us with our solution. This stage helps us develop active listening skills because we are required to focus on each team member when they are explaining their ideas and the reason behind it. It is important to be an active listener in this stage so that we can figure out which ideas are the most innovative and effective when it comes to fixing a certain problem.

  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:52:16 -0800 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_define_reflection_70

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might you explain the value of you having a systems-thinking mindset when attempting to define and understand a complex problem?

    tori's Answer

    It is important to have a systems-thinking mindset when attempting to define and understand complex problems because it is faster to come up with a solution this way. I personally am a very sensitive and emotional person and sometimes my feelings get in the way when I am trying to explain and/or understand something; so, by having this mindset it forces me to be practical and go step by step rather than diving right into the problem. Having a systems thinking mindset is also good because I can identify if my ideas are reasonable or farfetched. It is crucial to understand if there are any patterns and to focus on the background knowledge in order to try and change the future.

  • AC
    signed up 2022-12-14 08:51:55 -0800 sign_up
  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:50:38 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_empathize_reflection_70

    🤔 Reflection question

    After learning about how to empathize with the people affected by your SDG’s social issue, how you might apply empathy to working with the members on your CTN Innovation Team?

    tori's Answer

    I can demonstrate empathy in my innovation team by putting my own feelings and opinions aside and shift focus on my team members and their different perspectives. I will also take into consideration that every individual is unique and comes from different cultures and environments which means everyone has their own beliefs. With that being said, I will show empathy by respecting and valuing my team members differences and ensuring that I show them support as well as advocate for them when necessary. This means I will shut down any negative comments that include stereotyping and/or discrimination and encourage positivity and kindness by demonstrating it myself. Having empathy is key to building strong relationships and developing great team working skills!

  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:48:51 -0800 complete_your_changemaker_in_residency_week_reflection

    🤔 Reflection question

    What session inspired you the most during Changemaker in Residency Week, and why?

    tori's Answer

    The workshop that inspired me the most was the “Define Workshop.” The reason why I was inspired the most during this workshop was because there were some very informative videos played regarding the problems within the education system that I learned a lot from but also could relate to as well. I enjoyed learning about the iceberg model because it is very simple to use and helped me organize and process my concerns, thoughts, and ideas in a manageable way. I will use the iceberg model in the future whenever I am trying to overcome an obstacle or create a solution to a problem.

  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:46:15 -0800 create_your_team_canvas_70

    🤔 Reflection question

    What did you personally learn about the process of creating your team canvass?

    tori's Answer

    I learned that there are people who have the same goals and values as me when it comes to teamwork and making a change. It makes me happy that the things I find important, others do as well. I also learned it’s crucial to actively listen to the thoughts and ideas of others because they may say something you did not think of, and it can spark a new way of thinking. Also, in order to collaborate effectively and respectfully, I have learned that every team member needs to make their own contributions to the list of rules and morals that the team needs to follow. This was my first time working as a team on an online platform and it was easy to work together because we all knew how to treat each other and how to help one another.

  • Profile picture for tori geroux
    posted in "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022" 2022-12-14 08:43:18 -0800 complete_your_mobius_strip_reflection_70

    🤔 Reflection question

    After completing the Mobius Strip exercise, what do you feel are next steps towards contributing to the community you care about?

    tori's Answer

    I will contribute to the community I care about by getting to know it more and volunteering my time to help those in need. I have realized that I can use my strengths to directly help my community thrive. For example, I consider myself to be an excellent caregiver and I find joy in ensuring peoples needs are met. I think my next steps would be to seek out areas in my community that need help. I would love to volunteer my time in places such as senior homes, women and family shelters and community resource centres like food banks or second-hand stores.

  • Profile picture for Mariana Lima
    signed up for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education Challenge - SDG#4, Summer 2022 2022-12-14 08:21:50 -0800 quality_education_challenge_july2022
  • Profile picture for Basil Avarachan
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-13 07:26:45 -0800 complete_your_me_we_reflection_92

    🤔 Reflection question

    After completing CTN, what new awareness do you have for yourself (ME) and your community (WE) and what is one action you might take to continue to explore it?

    Basil's Answer

    Because of the experiences I have had learning about the many alternatives, I am aware of the prejudices I had against those who utilized the handicap benefits of public transportation. In order to tackle a society problem and come up with solutions, I learnt about new, innovative ideas. Because I worked in a big group, I was able to see how important it is to communicate with and pay attention to the other people in your group.

  • Profile picture for Basil Avarachan
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-13 07:25:15 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_pitch_reflection_92

    🤔 Reflection question

    What did you learn about publicly sharing your ideas that you will carry with you in your future of work?

    Basil's Answer

    We learned how to effectively express our thoughts by sharing stories during the Pecha-Kucha presentation that we participated in. The abilities to give a presentation and engage in casual conversation, which are both necessary to make a presentation engaging, are important talents that will be useful in the future.

  • Profile picture for Basil Avarachan
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-13 07:23:59 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_prototype_test_reflection_92

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might the prototype & test stage help you with overcoming a fear of failure or challenging your assumptions about what is ‘right’?

    Basil's Answer

    When it is necessary to test an idea before putting it into action, prototyping is the method that is used. As a consequence of the testing, we are aware of their success factors, their bottlenecks, and the ways in which we might get over them to effectively execute a certain concept. During the prototype stage, we were able to test potential ideas inside a fictitious framework and come up with additional potential answers that we had not considered at the outset.

  • Profile picture for Basil Avarachan
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-13 07:22:37 -0800 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_ideate_reflection_92

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might ideation help you develop your active listening skills to brainstorm and reflect on ideas effectively with your team?

    Basil's Answer

    My participation in the ideation phases has provided me with an enhanced talent in active listening, which enables me to listen attentively and thoughtfully evaluate the perspectives of others. I believe that we did a really excellent job of listening to each other when we were working together in the group. Active listening is extremely crucial while working in a group.

  • Profile picture for Gurjot Singh
    signed up 2022-12-13 05:44:56 -0800 sign_up
  • Profile picture for Amirpouya Ghasemi
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-12 06:47:22 -0800 complete_your_me_we_reflection_83

    🤔 Reflection question

    After completing CTN, what new awareness do you have for yourself (ME) and your community (WE) and what is one action you might take to continue to explore it?

    Amirpouya's Answer

    I am aware of the biases I had towards people who used the disability benefits of public transport, and by the experiences I have had learning about the different solutions, I feel that I have become more empathetic and will be even more willing to give up my seats when a disadvantaged person is on the public transport system

  • Profile picture for Amirpouya Ghasemi
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-12 06:45:33 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_pitch_reflection_83

    🤔 Reflection question

    What did you learn about publicly sharing your ideas that you will carry with you in your future of work?

    Amirpouya's Answer

    The presentation and small talk skills required to make a presentation interesting are valuable skills to be used in the future

  • Profile picture for Amirpouya Ghasemi
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-12 06:44:53 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_prototype_test_reflection_83

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might the prototype & test stage help you with overcoming a fear of failure or challenging your assumptions about what is ‘right’?

    Amirpouya's Answer

    The prototype stage allowed us to test solutions in an imaginary framework and come up with solutions we didnt think of at the start

  • Profile picture for Amirpouya Ghasemi
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-12 06:44:04 -0800 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_ideate_reflection_83

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might ideation help you develop your active listening skills to brainstorm and reflect on ideas effectively with your team?

    Amirpouya's Answer

    The ideation stages gives me an advanced active listening skill which allows me to listen carefully and deeply consider other viewpoints

  • Profile picture for Amirpouya Ghasemi
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-12 06:43:14 -0800 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_define_reflection_83

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might you explain the value of you having a systems-thinking mindset when attempting to define and understand a complex problem?

    Amirpouya's Answer

    It provides a valuable mindframe and provides different viewpoints in order to help tackle complex problems our society faces

  • Profile picture for Amirpouya Ghasemi
    posted in "Inclusive Design and Mobility Challenge – SDG #11, Spring 2022" 2022-12-12 06:42:22 -0800 complete_your_hcdt_stage_empathize_reflection_83

    🤔 Reflection question

    After learning about how to empathize with the people affected by your SDG’s social issue, how you might apply empathy to working with the members on your CTN Innovation Team?

    Amirpouya's Answer

    I learned the different goals and aspirations my team members had, and learned to Empathise with their differing visions