Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World

In partnership with Audemars Piguet, Ashoka, and Teach For All

Fostering Changemaking in Education

First Book, the largest online community of educators serving kids in need, and Ashoka, the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs, launched Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World, an initiative supported by Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet that aims to further changemaking. 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. There are now more than 20 Time for Change guides, toolkits, tip sheets, and videos available on the First Book Marketplace.

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 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.

Congratulations to the Time for Change Youth Challenge Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Time for Change Youth Challenge! Discover their inspiring projects and explore other incredible ideas submitted by young changemakers. Stay tuned to see the impact they’re making in their communities!

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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.

Changemakers in Action

Watch the inspiring videos below to see how Time for Change training, grants, and resources have empowered educators and students to create meaningful change

When a School Garden Becomes a Lifeline for Healthy Food Access

Airport Heights Elementary School

Educators at Airport Heights Elementary School in Anchorage, Alaska, share how giving students a voice through the Time for Change initiative sparked meaningful change in the classroom, school, and broader community. Students have developed a stronger sense of agency, empathy, and ownership as learners and citizens, highlighting the transformative power of changemaking to nurture kindness, resilience, and compassion. When children are given the opportunity to make a difference, they can help create a better world.

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McKinley Technology High School

At McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC, Dr. Angela Stephens brought changemaking lessons from Time for Change to her students, inspiring them to use their voices, give back, and take action on issues they care about. What began as uncertainty evolved into greater confidence, purpose, and connection to their community. Today, they see themselves as leaders, advocates, and changemakers—and are taking action to make a positive difference.

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Linking STEAM to Changemaking: A Powerful Combination

John Adams Elementary School

At John Adams Elementary School in Virginia, educators are helping students discover that they have the power to make a difference in their school and community. With support from a Community Changemakers Grant from Time for Change, a Changemaker Council composed of students in all grades identified areas for improvement and worked together to create positive change—from the cafeteria to the playground.

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Changemaker Educator Resource

Changemaking is the idea that, in partnership with others, every person can apply creative solutions to address problems in their communities. Everyone has the power to be a changemaker — it doesn’t matter how old you are or where you live.

This resource provides concise and actionable information to help educators bring the power of changemaking to their students.

Educators will learn:

•What changemaking looks like in practice
•The value of incorporating changemaking into teaching
•How changemaking fits in with Common Core standards
•How to develop and support changemakers in the classroom
•The four essential changemaker skills with practical activities to reinforce those skills

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How It Started

The Watch That Fueled a Partnership

Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change our world is a long-term collaboration coinciding with Audemars Piguet’s partnership with Marvel, which debuted in the spring of 2021, paying tribute to the next generation of agents of change. Over the years, Audemars Piguet has supported a variety of non-profit organizations invested in promoting educational programs and initiatives for young people.

A unique version of the Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon timepiece was auctioned off to support the long-term educational program Audemars Piguet has established with First Book and Ashoka.

The company’s corporate social responsibility is overseen by the Audemars Piguet Foundation, which since 1992 has been contributing to the cause of worldwide forest conservation through environmental protection and youth awareness-raising programs.

I think a changemaker is someone who can go out into the community, find a problem, and figure out a way to creatively change it or figure out something that isn’t working well and to change it and create a new solution for it.

Grace, Changemaker, IN

Ashoka knows that all young people can see a need, have a dream, build a team, and change their world. And that it is this experience that gives them the superpower to be givers — i.e., to have a good life. In a world now defined by change, not repetition, ethics requires that everyone have this, life-giving power to give, i.e., to be a changemaker.

Bill Drayton, CEO | Ashoka