"Teachers, do you struggle with finding genuine third party audiences for your student' service projects?"

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We named our company Make A Difference for a reason - we are focused on not only making a difference through our financial and educational support with community partnerships but also by empowering students to make significant contributions to positive social change.

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In addition to building empathy and fostering connection, we know that giving students the skills to become agents of positive social change is crucial. One powerful way to cultivate their potential is by encouraging them to share and pitch their social change ideas to authentic third-party audiences. Presenting to others outside their school or family can help students to foster confidence, witness the relevance of their ideas in the “real world” and get constructive feedback. 

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Students develop confidence and effective communication skills when sharing their projects and ideas with others, especially outside of their social, familial and educational settings. Presenting their ideas before an external audience, such as community leaders, peers, experts, or organizations, instils a sense of purpose and validation in their efforts. Through this experience, students gain self-assurance, enhance their video creation skills,  public speaking skills, and learn to articulate their thoughts and beliefs persuasively, all of which are essential lifelong skills.

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Engaging with a third-party audience also allows students to witness the real-world relevance of their ideas. It bridges the gap between classroom learning and practical application, emphasising the impact their initiatives can have beyond academic boundaries. Students see that their ideas have the potential to inspire change and contribute to meaningful societal transformation, motivating them to think critically, develop innovative solutions, and actively participate in shaping the world around them.

Pitching ideas to an authentic audience provides students with valuable feedback and the opportunity for collaboration. By interacting with external stakeholders, students receive constructive criticism, suggestions, and perspectives that can refine and strengthen their proposals. Furthermore, engaging with professionals and community members fosters collaborative relationships, allowing students to connect with mentors, experts, or organizations that can offer guidance, resources, or even partnerships to further their social change endeavors.

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For all of the above reasons, Make A Difference is really proud that in our flagship program for empowering young people to take informed action (the Changemaker Launchpad or CMLP - find out more here) we have “Launch Tracks” in which a student or a team submits their idea to an outside organisation! One of those is The Global Co Lab Network "Co Lab”. This small but mighty organisation empowers youth ages 13-35 with a focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  It does this with an annual global video contest, Teens Dream, and twelve virtual teen-led weekly gatherings, SDG Hubs addressing racial justice, gender equality, mental health, quality education, climate change, hunger, plastic pollution, wildlife conservation. MAD Courses’ CMLP scaffolds students to enter the Teens Dream challenge and join the SDG Hubs - a REAL LIFE opportunity for students to present to authentic third party audiences!

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If you could pick an audience for YOUR student’s ideas, who would you choose? Why? 

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We are looking for students to test the program with this launch track. Get in touch with Suji at suji@madcourses.com to try out the course in your classroom.