During a recent team call, we playfully posed a question to ourselves: how would we describe 2024 at ChangemakerXchange in just one word or phrase? As we took turns sharing, one word stood out and seemed to capture it best: FULL.
And indeed, 2024 has been full in every sense of the word. Full of moments that inspired us, tested us, and strengthened our commitment to supporting changemakers around the world. But full also reflects a year that has been heavy with challenges. From climate crises to wars, disruptions have deeply impacted communities across the globe, including members of our own.
These realities have been a powerful reminder of the struggles so many face—and of the vital role changemakers play in responding with hope, action, and resilience. Their work (and our role in supporting them!) has never felt more urgent and meaningful.
So, as we hold the fullness of this year—its inspiration, its challenges, and everything in between—as usual, we want to take a moment to pause, reflect, and appreciate how far we’ve come together.
To help us do this, we’re revisiting 2024 through three key pillars that highlight where we’ve placed our focus and energy.
We invite you to join us as we look back on the year.
Pillar 1: ChangemakerXchange Community
At the heart of ChangemakerXchange is our vibrant global community—a network of nearly 1,500 changemakers spanning 130 countries. New members join us through our thematic programmes: immersive journeys where they connect, learn, and collaborate with other social innovators in their region. But that is just the beginning. What starts as a spark grows into lifelong engagement—a space where changemakers continue to learn, build meaningful connections, and receive ongoing support to amplify their impact.
Skills for Changemakers
Thanks to the support of our partner SAP, we’re thrilled to have piloted a new community programme this year, empowering 12 changemakers in Germany through capacity-building grants, in-person gatherings, and consulting provided by SAP staff.
We’re excited to build on this momentum with new topics and opportunities next year—stay tuned!
To learn more and stay updated, please visit our official page.
Changemakers for the Planet
With support from Apple, Changemakers for the Planet connected and supported young climate leaders across MENA and Europe this year, amplifying their efforts to tackle the planetary crisis. Through in-person summits, funding for collaborative projects, and access to key ecosystem events, the programme welcomed 57 changemakers into our global community, resulting in 13 collaborations projects, including support for young climate changemakers in conflict zones and a peer-learning initiative around circular fashion.
Additionally, with support from SAP, we completed the call for applications for Changemakers for the Planet in the USA & Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa, set to launch in 2025. We can’t wait to introduce the 47 selected changemakers joining this journey and share the collaborative impact they’ll create!
We’re committed to addressing the planetary crisis and supporting climate changemakers around the world. If you’d like to learn more or get involved, we invite you to visit our dedicated page and explore the initiatives we’re working on together.
Changemakers for Democracy
With support from the Open Society Foundations, Changemakers for Democracy empowers Europe-based practitioners, innovators, and movement leaders working on democratic renewal and new economic systems.
At a time of growing polarisation and extremism, bold ideas and collaboration are more important than ever. This year, we welcomed 16 inspiring Fellows into the 12-month Fellowship, providing capacity-building, €50,000 in funding per Fellow, and support for cross-border collaboration. Together, they’re driving change and shaping a stronger, more democratic Europe.
Learn more about the Changemakers for Democracy programme and the incredible work of our Fellows by visiting our dedicated page.
Changemakers for Education
With support from the Julius Baer Foundation, Changemakers for Education empowers 26 young leaders across Asia who are tackling education inequality and creating opportunities for equitable learning.
Despite progress in access to education, gaps tied to birthplace, wealth, ethnicity, and gender persist. This programme amplifies initiatives that bridge these divides and promote self-development through learning. We’re proud to welcome 26 changemakers from across Asia into our community, all working tirelessly to bridge these educational divides and create a fairer future.
Discover more about the programme and the inspiring work of these changemakers on our dedicated page.
Homecoming Gathering
Across 11 vibrant cities around the world, our community came together for the Homecoming Gathering—a joyful celebration of connection and reunion with friends, old and new.
Held in Bangkok, Beijing, Berlin, Istanbul, Kigali, Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, Lima, Paris, Toronto, and Tunis, these gatherings were thoughtfully planned to ensure diverse representation and create spaces where changemakers could reconnect and rekindle their sense of belonging.
Read our blog post capturing the unique stories and moments from each gathering.
DEI at CXC
We continue to strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). With the guidance of DEI facilitator Bontu Lucie Guschke, we updated our Discrimination and Harassment Policy to ensure it reflects best practices. Our team also completed Tackling Discrimination and Harassment training, enhancing both awareness and preparedness.
Our commitment to equity continues through initiatives such as the Equality Roundtable and The Council at The Possibilists, which promote diverse representation in decision-making. We’ve also embedded equity into our operations by offering stipends to support changemakers.
We invite you to explore our DEI Resources, where we’ve documented key learnings and insights from this work.
Learning Sessions
This year, we hosted 27 learning sessions, spanning over 40 hours and engaging 400 young changemakers. The topics were carefully selected based on a needs assessment conducted with participants from recent programmes, ensuring relevance and value.
Many of the insights from these sessions have been documented in our Resources for Changemakers, a publicly accessible collection designed to support changemakers everywhere.
We invite you to explore these resources and share them with anyone who might find them helpful.
Ecosystem Events
As part of our commitment to supporting changemakers, we provide access, stipends, and preparation to actively engage in key events like Climate Week New York, Slush, CBD COP16, and COP29.
Our goal is to ensure that the voices of changemakers are heard in critical global conversations about the planet’s future.
At COP29, we went a step further by co-creating an on-the-ground report with our attending community members, capturing their unique perspectives and experiences.
The Abundance Fellowship
This second iteration of The Abundance Fellowship stayed true to its purpose: empowering changemakers to foster a more liberating relationship with money and the economy, grounded in reciprocity and abundance.
While the Fellowship itself is open exclusively only members of ChangemakerXchange and the Bosch Alumni Network, the Abundance Resource Corner is available to everyone.
Explore this curated collection of resources at the end of the blog post to learn more.
Changemakers for Equality Virtual Roundtable
In anticipation of a potential new programme, Changemakers for Equality, supported by Julius Baer Foundation, we hosted a virtual roundtable. This inspiring session brought changemakers together to exchange ideas, share insights, and spark meaningful conversations around wealth equality.
We’re thrilled about what’s coming next and can’t wait to share more with you. Stay tuned!
Follow ChangemakerXchange on LinkedIn for updates and sneak peeks into what’s ahead.
Pillar 2: Facilitators for Change
Beyond building a community of changemakers, we’ve doubled down on supporting facilitators—the ones working behind the scenes to amplify impact. We often say, “Facilitation is the software of social change,” because, like great software, it helps things run seamlessly, unlocks potential, and brings people together in meaningful ways. This year, we’ve invested deeply in these enablers, providing tailored training and hands-on workshops to help them build the skills, tools, and confidence they need.
Training for Our Internal Facilitators
We continue to strengthen our facilitators’ expertise in both mental health and impactful facilitation, deepening our commitment to creating meaningful and supportive spaces within our community.
Supported by Beisheim Stiftung, we certified 10 facilitators as Mental Health First Aid responders, equipping them to provide vital mental health support within the ChangemakerXchange communities.
We also hosted an in-person training-of-trainers for 16 facilitators, focusing on strategies to foster deep human connections, peer learning, and collaborative action through powerful facilitation practices.
Exciting things are in the works! Stay tuned as we prepare to share more facilitation tips and insights—keep an eye on our social media for regular updates.
Make sure to follow our work on Instagram.
Facilitation Partnerships
This year, we were grateful for the opportunity to work with a range of inspiring organisations, sharing facilitation expertise and designing tailored online training sessions for WASH United, UiPath Foundation, Porticus, Laudes Foundation, and Ashoka Changemaker Companies Team.
We were also privileged to facilitate a strategy process, including cross-regional advisory board meetings, focus groups, and surveys among beneficiaries for Drosos Foundation.
Our ongoing partnership with the Bosch Alumni Network allowed us to support gatherings that brought together members from both Bosch Alumni Network and ChangemakerXchange to exchange insights and learn from one another.
Additionally, we were thankful to serve as an advisor on programme strategy and a facilitation partner for SOS Children’s Villages’ Eco Champions programme, which focuses on building the capacity of young climate changemakers from vulnerable backgrounds.
We value these collaborations deeply and look forward to continuing to create spaces for learning, connection, and meaningful action.
Learn more about our Facilitation Services by visiting our dedicated page—and feel free to share it with anyone who might find it valuable.
Pillar 3: The Possibilists
Through The Possibilists—supported by SAP and Google.org—we brought together an alliance of 20 (and counting!) of the world’s largest and leading support networks for young impact entrepreneurs. By creating shared, transparent data, we’ve been able to inform our work and advocate for changes that strengthen the broader changemaking ecosystem.
Launch of The 2024 Europe Report
Building on the foundation of The Possibilists Report 2023, the 2024 Europe Report takes a closer look at the lives and challenges of changemakers across Europe. This new report, also supported by Google.org, uncovers meaningful insights into their experiences and needs.
While there are commonalities among changemakers worldwide, our findings reveal distinct regional differences that offer fresh insights into their experiences and needs.
Explore the report to delve deeper into the unique realities of changemakers in Europe.
Launch of the We Are Family Foundation x The Possibilists Global Study on Collaborating Across Generations
In 2023, We Are Family Foundation and The Possibilists conducted a global study exploring the beliefs, challenges, and traits essential for impactful intergenerational collaboration.
Earlier this year, we unveiled the results in the report, “Collaborating Across Generations: Insights, Challenges, and Best Practices,” offering valuable insights into collaboration across ages, sectors, and intersections worldwide.
Discover the report and gain actionable recommendations to foster meaningful collaborations across generations.
The Possibilists Council
The Possibilists Council is a diverse group of 12 changemakers representing Africa, Asia, Europe, MENA, North America, and South America.
This council was created to ensure that the work of The Possibilists Team and Alliance is guided by the invaluable insights and lived experiences of changemakers. Their perspectives shape our efforts, surveys, and activities, keeping them grounded and impactful.
Get to know the inspiring individuals in the Possibilists Council.
The Possibilists Directory
The Possibilists Directory is a global repository of grant-making, capacity-building, and support programmes for young social innovators.
This valuable resource is continuously expanding, with new opportunities being added regularly.
We invite you to explore it, share it widely, and help more changemakers access the opportunities they need to thrive.
Updates from the Ecosystem
We’ve introduced Updates from the Ecosystem through our newsletters and social media channels, where we share curated resources to empower changemakers.
These include funding opportunities, capacity-building programmes, insightful reading materials, and fellowships tailored to support impactful work.
Stay connected and catch regular updates by following us on LinkedIn.
The 2025 Possibilists Global Survey and Study
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re currently laying the groundwork for The Possibilists 2025 Global Survey and Study. It will continue to uncover valuable insights into the needs, challenges, and impact of young social innovators worldwide.
We can’t wait to share more as this exciting journey unfolds. Stay tuned!
Follow us on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Thank you so much for reading this far.
As we reflect on this full year, we’re reminded of the importance of community and collaboration in navigating both challenges and opportunities.
We hope this glimpse into our work has sparked hope and possibility for what lies ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey with us—here’s to a meaningful 2025!
—Your ChangemakerXchange Team