Super Kids Save the World!

That’s right. Super kids. Out to save the world. And I found out about it on Pakistani TV, of all places.

My old college roommate posted a video about it on Facebook. She recently returned to Pakistan to help her family after a decade of running charities in Vancouver and Seattle. (Yes, she’s amazing.) Her sister was in the video talking about something called “Design for Change.”

Of course, I couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying in the video, but that only piqued my curiosity. A Google search soon revealed an incredible worldwide effort, apparently started in Pakistan. So far it’s enlisted the ingenuity of 25-million kids in countries all over the world, including right here in the U.S.

In their own words:

Design for Change is the largest global movement designed to give children an opportunity to express their own ideas for a better world and put them into action. Children and adults learn through the Design for Change Challenge that “I Can” are the two most powerful words a person can believe. This year, Design for Change reaches 33 countries and over 300,000 schools inspiring hundreds of thousands of children, teachers, and parents to celebrate the fact change is possible and that they can lead that change! The challenge asks students to do four very simple things : Feel, Imagine, Do, and Share. Children are dreaming up and leading brilliant ideas all over the world, from challenging age-old superstitions in rural communities to earning their own money to finance school computers to solving the problem of heavy school bags.

From what I gather, kids (1) come up with a project design to help their school, community, or world in some way, (2) make it happen, and (3) make a video to show the world what they’ve accomplished. Sometimes there are prizes involved, too. Any parent, teacher, or community leader working with 8-15 year olds can get their kids involved. Kids can even sign up on their own if they’d like. (Double kudos to them!)

I have a feeling there are a lot more secret super kids out there just waiting for their chance to save the world. If you know one (or are one), start your own DFC project—and let me know what I can do to help! They say no project is too small, and everything you need to know is right here.

Also, here’s a book with some great stories of kids who got involved and what they accomplished. (Use code ICAN35 to get it for $7.99 + free shipping.) Proceeds from the book benefit the cause.