Design For Change NI: I CAN Challenge

The Design For Change I CAN Challenge is an exciting opportunity only open to NI organisations enabling children and young people to intiitate and lead social action in their schools and communities.

By joining the I CAN Challenge, children and young people from NI, along with teachers, youth workers and community leaders, get to join the globally globally acclaimed, Harvard University-endorsed Design for Change (DFC) Global Movement, active in 70+ countries and that has empowered over 2 million young minds to lead local change.

Why should you join?

Since 2010 eduSOIL has empowered hundreds of children and young people from the Philippines (2010 - 2020) South Africa (2015 -) Sudan (2018 -) and Northern Ireland (2022 -) to represent their countries within the global movement in two ways:

• By joining programmes delivered by eduSOIL, such as Art For Change in NI and Virtual Youth Exchange for SA and Sudan to initiate and lead social action projects

• By utilising our 4 step FIDS framework (Feel, Imagine, Do and Share) to share social action projects that they have already initiated and are leading

Here from Karma Vyas to know what impact the programme has had on him as young person in NI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7erQt4PQ78w&t=3s

What does joining involve?

eduSOIL provides a self-guided course that supports teachers and youth workers with aligning their existing youth-led initiatives to the global Design For Change FIDS framework. We alo offer online and onsite consultations to support with the process. Only stories submitted via our official process are considered for global representation opportunities.

What are the global representation opportunities?

We offer four opportunities for children and young people to be supported by teachers and youth workers to:

• Join the Stories of Change archive through formal, vetted online submission of youth-led projects

• Attend the Be The Change global gathering taking place in Greece this year. Visit this page to know more.

• Represent NI on the DFC Global Student Council connecting with connecting with young leaders from 30+ countries bi-monthly

• Join the eduSOIL International Student Council connecting with young leaders from SA and Sudan bi-monthly

Is there a deadline for joining?

Yes. Each opportunity operates within timelines as follows

• Stories of Change - rolling

• Be The Change - closes September 25th 2026

• DFC Global Student Council closes Jan 2027

• eduSOIL International Student Council - closes Feb 2027

Are there joining fees?

Yes. Each route has standalone joining fees. Contact us to know more.

How can you join?

Write to northernireland@edusoil.com to know more about the joining fees for groups and the joining process for teachers, youth workers as well as parents who want to support their children to be involved.