ChangemakerXchange

If we were to define 2024 in one word, it would be FULL. Full of moments that inspired us, tested us, and strengthened our commitment to supporting changemakers around the globe. 🗺️ While this fullness brought inspiration, it also marked a year heavy with challenges. From climate crises to wars, disruptions have deeply impacted communities worldwide, including members of our own. As we hold the fullness of this year—its inspirations, its challenges, and everything in between—we pause to reflect and appreciate how far we've come together. We've captured these reflections and more in our End-of-Year Blog post, and we invite you to read it (link in the comment section). If you're reading this, thank you for being a part of this journey. Your presence and contributions mean more than words can express. We wish you happy holidays and a happy new year in advance. 🧡💜

📌 The youth climate movement becomes significantly stronger when it embraces underrepresented perspectives and reflects the diversity of those most impacted by the climate crisis. With that vision in mind, we’re thrilled to spotlight our partnership with SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit on their Eco-Champions Programme! 🌍💚 This meaningful, four-year collaboration brings together ChangemakerXchange's expertise in supporting young changemakers with SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit's extensive experience in youth participation and empowering children and young people from vulnerable or alternative care backgrounds. This year, we were honoured to serve as an advisor on programme strategy and as a facilitation partner for the Eco-Champions Programme, which is building the capacity of 25 young climate changemakers and their youth workers from Somalia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Namibia, Jordan, and Nigeria. 🌱✨ A huge congratulations to the dream facilitation and project team from both CXC and SOS CVI: Ingi Mehus, Mutetelenu Kalama, Ghizlane A., SHARON MIGARIZA, Ulla Riedle, Alena Dietl, Arianna Tripodi and many more! 📸 Beautiful photos by Alea Horst. #SOSCVI #EcoChampions #EcoChampions #ClimateChange #cmxchange

International Migrants Day highlights the vital contributions of migrants worldwide. Protecting their rights and dignity means addressing humanitarian needs, advancing sustainable development, and fostering solidarity to uphold our shared humanity. Our community member, Hugo Menino Aguiar is the co-founder of SPEAK - Share your world—a global platform for language and cultural exchange. In this short interview, we asked him: 'What approach has been most impactful in helping migrants feel supported, included, and empowered to thrive in their new communities?' Check out the visuals for his full response. #SPEAK #InternationalMigrantsDay #HugoMeninoAguiar #Migration #Culture #cmxchange

Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now. World Human Rights Day marks the historic adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly—a profound reminder of our shared commitment to dignity and respect for all, regardless of background or circumstance. This year, we asked some of our community members: “What is one lesson you've learned from your fight for human rights that could help create a more just and equitable world?” You can explore the visuals to see their responses. Thaiane Maciel (Instituto Ecocria - Canal Novo Mundo) | Ngunan Ioron- Aloho, PMP®️ (Samuel Ioron Foundation - SIF) | Ana Rosa de Lima (Meli Bees Network) | Fernando Pérez (Espacio Joven SV) | Aysu Erdoğdu Miskbay | Phyo Su Moe (Inclusion Journey) | Jacquelin Alcius (Alternatives Business Incubator & Accelerator (ABIA)) #WorldHumanRightsDay #UDHR #HumanRights #cmxchange

Every December 3rd, we commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to a World Health Organization fact sheet published last year, an estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disabilities, representing 16% of the world's population—or 1 in 6 individuals globally. We turned to Manel Bargaoui, our community member and an inclusive education advocate, to gain insights into this year's theme on amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future. As the founder and director of LET'S Inclusive School—the first online inclusive school in Tunisia and the MENA region—and the first English language teacher for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the region, she brings a unique perspective to our question: "How can we better support and amplify the leadership of persons with disabilities to ensure their perspectives shape an inclusive and sustainable future?" Check out the visuals to read her insights. #ManelBargaoui #LETSInclusiveSchool #IDPWD #PWD #cmxchange

Congratulations to our community member, Mariam AlSaad (founder of AlManakh), on winning the Al-Sayer Achievement Award for her outstanding work in sustainability and climate action in Kuwait. We recently had the pleasure of interviewing her, during which she shared valuable insights on her journey, the challenges she has faced, advice for young changemakers looking to create lasting impact and much more. Check out the visuals to see her full response. #MariamAlSaad #AlManakh #Kuwait #Sustainability #AlSayerAchievementAward #ClimateAction #cmxchange

ClimaTalk and ChangemakerXchange are thrilled to invite you to our virtual event “What happened at COP29? Youth Reflections and Policy Insights” where young leaders from both organizations will be leading a structured talk and panel providing insights on their experience at COP29 and what happened in crucial policy areas. You will get: ✅A short background to COP29  ✅Policy insights on key areas including the NCQG, Article 6, Mitigation, Just Transition, Gender, Youth, Adaptation, Agriculture and more.  ✅Reflections on young delegates’ personal experience at this COP ✅The opportunity to ask your burning questions about participating in COP as a young person, or any of the touched upon policy areas. This event will take place on Wednesday, 4th December at 3.30-5pm GMT. Join us for an insightful session with remarkable young speakers and panellists! Open to anyone. We look forward to seeing you there! Our wonderful speakers will be: 💚 Mutetelenu Kalama, CXC member and Executive Director at Agents of Change Foundation Zambia, in-person delegate to COP29 and previous COPs 💚 Annabelle Liao, ClimaTalk COP29 Project Co-Lead and Week 1 delegate at COP29, previously delegate to COP28 💚 Daniel Tucker Bailey, ClimaTalk COP29 Project Co-Lead and Virtual Delegation Coordinator, previously in-person delegate to SB60 💚 Shreya Patel, ClimaTalk COP29 Week 2 delegate, President of Cambridge Climate Society  💚 Mila Sirychenko, ClimaTalk COP29 in-person delegate for both weeks, policy advocate for sustainable recovery of Ukraine 💚 Jennifer Salmon, ClimaTalk COP29 virtual delegate, outgoing UNFCCC Climate Youth Delegate for Ireland (SB58, COP28, SB60) 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dEU4qiMX

Changemakers Lunching Together 🍴 Good food, great company, and fruitful conversations at COP29 last week—because changemaking happens at the table, too! 🥗✨ Photo & Video credit: Oliver Rieche. Abdelkader Elkhaligi Amal Ridene Fella Bouti Linh Do Mutetelenu Kalama Rahma Diaa RICHARD KACHUNGU Yusuf Munna #COP29 #ChangemakersUnite #ClimateAction #GoodVibesOnly #ChangemakerLunch #cmxchange #CXCatCOP

Biodiversity Day at COP29: Key Highlights with Oliver Rieche 💡 Biodiversity took centre stage at COP29, and Oliver Rieche, Director of Legal Affairs, Carbon Procurement & NDC Partnership at Balance Eco Ltd, shared key takeaways from the discussions. Swipe through to explore these insights and see how COP29 is shaping the future of biodiversity action! #COP29 #BiodiversityDay #ClimateAction #BiodiversityDay #OliverRieche #Balance #BalanceEco #CXCatCOP

Advocating for nature-based solutions in the fight against plastic pollution and climate change At COP29, Ola Alhaj, CEO and Founder of the youth-led RECO project, shared her key takeaway on the importance of nature-based solutions (NBS) as tools and catalysts for sustainability. Ola highlighted the example of transitioning from synthetic fishing gear to nature-based alternatives to tackle plastic pollution, showcasing how these solutions can significantly reduce plastic waste and usage. She reflected on the diverse perspectives shared by participants on implementing NBS in their countries, as well as challenges like scalability and meeting population needs. The consensus from the session? Nature-based solutions are essential for achieving true sustainability. #COP29 #ClimateAction #NatureBasedSolutions #OlaAlhaj #RECOProject #Sustainability #PlasticPollution #CXCatCOP