Design for Change is an innovative and exciting competition for young people that might just change the world!

Young people who enter are asked to design a solution to a problem in their community and make it happen. Each individual change builds momentum and energy behind significant positive change driven by our young people.

The competition originated in India where it has had a massive impact. In July 2010, the inspiration behind the competition, Kiran Bir Sethi, will come to the UK to launch it here. Design for Change is not just a competition; it will become an inspiring and empowering community that will help young people believe that they matter and they can make a difference.

Participants are given a simple task: design a solution to a problem in your community and make it happen!

The purpose of the project is to:

• Help people believe that they matter.
• Help them discover that change can happen and that they can become drivers of it.
• Help them to believe, "I Can!"

The competition is designed to be flexible and 'teacher friendly' - allowing participating schools and groups to design their own project, in their own way, to fit with school terms, holidays, and other curriculum demands.

Young people up and down the UK are involved in charity projects. The large majority of this activity is devoted to raising money for, and raising awareness about, the chosen charity's aims.  This is fantastic!

However, Design for Change is brilliantly different. 

In this competition we encourage young people to think beyond money, and fundraising. We ask them to get directly involved in designing and leading change in their local community. Hands on!

In every case the participants amaze and inspire their teachers, parents and their communities.  They are transformed by this competition, and so is everyone connected to it.

Just watching the videos on this page - especially the one at the top - will inspire you to be part of this.

The contest started in India in 2009 at the Riverside School in Ahmedabad, India. Incredibly, the contest reached 33,000 schools.

Riverside School's Founder and Head Teacher Kiran Bir Sethi was invited to speak about the project at the TED India Conference in November 2009.  This presentation sparked a global response and Design for Change Contests are now being held throughout the world, with more countries and regions signing up monthly. Global Web Site.

Please support this voluntary project with a small donation!

Sign up for our occasional newsletter here!

Monday 12th July 2010

Official launch event for Headteachers of UK Primary & Secondary Schools to meet Kiran Bir Sethi. Headteachers can reserve places here.

Monday 29th November 2010

Deadline for the Submission form and documentation of your project

Friday, 15th December 2010 

Notification of Awards

Friday, 14th January 2011

Awards Ceremony in London