BE PART OF THESOCIAL SHIFT
Be part of a global community and take action on the social and environmental issues that matter to you most.
Who are
social shifters?
We’re a global non-profit supporting the next generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to tackle the world’s most pressing social and environmental issues in new ways.
We empower the most incredible young minds on the planet through engaging learning experiences, grant funding opportunities and connection to a global community to develop transferable skills and to move your ideas for change forward!
Social Shifters
Global Innovation
Challenge 2025
Compete for multiple grant funding awards of up to $15,000, PLUS access free founder support and Social Shifters Global Opportunity Network!
We’re looking for highly innovative youth-led startups and impact projects that can deliver measurable social or environmental impact.
Social Shifters are leading
change in their communities.
In every corner of the world young people are rising up to take action on the social and environmental issues that matter to them most.
“I WANT BIOMEC TO BECOME THE WORLD’S REFERENCE POINT FOR PRACTICAL,HIGH QUALITY AND ECOLOGICAL PROSTHETICS, ENABLING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCELIFE WITHOUT LIMITATIONS.”
Marta Vânia Uetela , 27, Mozambique
Marta is a Co Founder of social enterprise ‘BIOMEC’ that collects abandoned fishing nets and plastic waste from the ocean and transforms these harmful plastics into affordable 3-D printed prosthetic limbs for people with disabilities.
“I DECIDED TO START CONEDUCACIÓN BECAUSE EDUCATION CHANGED MY LIFE. AS A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT BORN IN A LOW-INCOME NEIGHBOURHOOD IN MEDELLÍN, IT WAS EDUCATION THAT OPENED THE DOORS TO A FUTURE I WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE NOT DREAMT OF.”
Yuliana Palacio, 24, Colombia
The ConEducación Foundation is a non-profit entity that aims to close gaps in academic performance and promote access to high-quality education for less advantaged students in Colombia. Anchored in the values of social responsibility , equity , community , support and empathy.
“GROWING UP IN A COMMUNITY WITH NO ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY WAS A CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. THESE EXPERIENCES, COMBINED WITH MY PASSION FOR BUILDING TECH PROJECTS, LED ME TO BECOME A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR. THE KEY TRIGGER FOR ME WAS MY DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER CHILD HAD TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID.”
Stanley Anignogu, 23, Nigeria
LightEd is a social enterprise that repurposes electronic and plastic waste to build sustainable energy solutions - bringing power and light into refugee communities.
“I BELIEVE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO GET ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EITHER JOBS OR BUSINESSES IS THE SUREST WAY OF IGNITING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE.”
Charles Oyamo, 26, Kenya
ReThread Africa is a project developed in Kenya that enables smallholder farmers to turn their agricultural waste into a new revenue stream that could subsidise smallholder agriculture and be the missing link to elevate farmers from the poverty bracket.
“MY WORK IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAN IMPROVE PEOPLE’S LIVES. IF I CAN INSPIRE CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF NATURE, TO GO OUT MORE, TO LEARN TO COOK AND EAT HEALTHY OR TO DISCOVER A HOBBY THAT WILL GIVE THEM COMFORT ON A STRESSFUL DAY – THEN I WILL TRY TO DO THAT. IF I CAN GET JUST ONE CHILD TO MAKE A HAPPY MEMORY, IT’S ALL WORTH THE EFFORT.”
Elena Höge, 30, Germany
Yaldi Games enrich their players' lives by offering engaging gameplay that enhances their skills and wellbeing. Their debut title is called Out and About, a foraging life simulator that connects you to nature with real plants and recipes!
7 IN 10 BABIES DIE ARE PREMATURE BABIES DUE TO THE INSUFFICIENT FACILITIES ON GROUND [...] MOST MOTHERS THEN OPT FOR KANGAROO SKIN TO SKIN CARE BUT MOST OF THE MOTHERS USE UNSTERILE AND LIGHT CLOTHING TO DO THIS EVEN PREDISPOSING THESE BABIES TO MORE INFECTIONS LEADING TO DEATH. IT IS WITH THIS BACKGROUND THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES DECIDED TO COME UP WITH A SIMPLER AND MORE AFFORDABLE SOLUTION.
Comfort Peace Ayikoru, 26, Uganda
KangaCare is a low-cost, locally made, alternative to neonatal incubators used to support the life of premature babies. A knitted double-layered carrier that embraces the Kangaroo-inspired ‘skin-to-skin’ mother care technique and is fitted with vital reading sensors, and microprocessors for infant vital sign monitoring.
Our internationally successful Global Innovation Challenge is mobilizing the next generation of young founders and leaders in large numbers, equipping them to bring their world-changing ideas to life.
20,000Community members globally
144Countries represented
94%Able to progress a startup/project idea faster
We’ve got
the tools for change!
If you’re new to social entrepreneurship, our bitesize elearning resources are a great way to get started! These easy-to-use downloadable tools will help you to shape your ideas for impact.
Social Shifters
Podcast
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support direct to
your inbox!
Keep up to date on all the latest programme info, new podcast episodes, support from our team and so much more!
Our incredible
partners
Social Shifters is supported by some of the worlds leading businesses. Thank you to all of the forward thinking organizations that help us to supercharge the work of young impact founders.
