Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World

Educational Equity Through Changemaking

First Book, the largest online community of educators serving kids in poverty, and Ashoka, the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs, launched Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World, an initiative designed to further educational equity through changemaking made possible by Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer, Audemars Piguet. The initiative kicked off with a First Book Accelerator resource for educators that introduced changemaking and suggested practical ways to inspire students to become changemakers for their schools and their communities.

Our world of accelerated change requires everyone, regardless of geography, race, or socio-economic background, to adapt to and create change for the common good. This initiative addresses the opportunity and resource gap that limits many young people from low-income and historically excluded communities from solving the problems they care about, building from their unique perspectives and lived experiences.

Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World launched in the U.S. and has expanded internationally.

Our Vision

Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World is founded on the understanding that a world of accelerated change requires everyone, regardless of geography, race, or socio-economic background to adapt to and create change for the common good. The initiative addresses the opportunity and resource gap that limits many young people from low-income and historically excluded communities from solving the problems they care about.

“Our vision is a world in which all young people, particularly those from low-income and historically excluded communities, grow up with the support and resources to thrive as lifelong, dynamic changemakers, equipped to solve problems large and small in their families, communities, and beyond,” said Kyle Zimmer, President, CEO, Co-founder of First Book, and a Senior Ashoka Fellow. “Thanks to this partnership with Audemars Piguet and Ashoka, we can bring this vision to life.”

The initiative empowers young people to draw on their unique perspectives and lived experiences to address the issues that matter most to them. We do this by equipping educators with practical tools, engaging books, and step-by-step guidance to nurture changemaking in their students—while also highlighting powerful stories of young people driving positive change in their classrooms, communities, and beyond. At this time of tremendous change and opportunity, this effort will catalyze a movement to make changemaking the norm for all young people.

Inspiring the Next Generation: Educator Tools for Fostering Changemaking in Students

As part of an ongoing Time for Change initiative, First Book has created FREE resources that educators can use to help create a changemaking mindset in their students. A Guide for Inspiring Young Changemakers is a toolkit filled with lessons and activities and the Changemakers in Action resource is a video series that features stories from real student changemakers.  First Book hopes these resources will help educators to explore their role in creating a generation of changemakers and students to begin their changemaking journeys.