Designathon Works

Children under 18 years old comprise almost one third of the world’s population, totaling 8 billion, and in many countries, they constitute nearly 50% of the national population. Despite their significant presence, children often find themselves among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society. They are frequently excluded from decisions directly impacting them, despite bearing minimal responsibility for societal and environmental harm.

Global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals highlight the critical role of quality education in sustainable development and global citizenship (United Nations, 2016). This underscores the importance of educating children about these concepts and equipping them with skills for the future. Notably, SDG Indicator 4.7.1 focuses on integrating global citizenship education and education for sustainable development into national education policies, curricula, teacher education, and student assessment within the UN SDG framework.

The target set for 2030 is to "ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development." The future hinges on children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds collaborating and devising solutions for a sustainable world. However, many children in marginalized communities face barriers hindering their access to programs that foster critical 21st-century skills such as creative thinking, problem-solving, and technological literacy. Discrimination further exacerbates these challenges, limiting their potential.

Our organization, DW, strives to sharpen the focus on the skills required for the future. We believe that workforce readiness, soft skills, technical skills, and entrepreneurship are essential for empowering young people to carve out meaningful roles in future society. Advocating for greater investment in inclusive skills for the next generation is crucial, as quality education has been proven as the most effective means to alleviate poverty, inequality, and instability (OECD, The future of education and skills, education 2030).

While guided play and integrated pedagogies have shown promise in enhancing educational outcomes and nurturing various skills (LEGO Foundation, Parker and Thomsen, 2019), educational systems struggle to adopt them due to curriculum overload and mounting demands. As a result, children suffer as unintended casualties.

Our organization acknowledges the imperative to bridge divides and foster a united front against global challenges. Facilitating connections between children from diverse backgrounds aims to dismantle barriers, foster cultural exchange, and cultivate mutual understanding, thus nurturing unity and collaboration among future leaders.

Designathon aims to address this issue by offering user-friendly methodologies, project-based lesson materials, and multilingual training on core curricular topics. By fostering a community of practice and sharing success stories, Designathon strives to accelerate progress towards a more promising educational future.

What if society were to radically reimagine the role of the child? What if we all saw children as changemakers, activists, scientists, or inventors? What if every child was offered a path to develop these abilities?

At Designathon Works, our ultimate goal is to empower 1 million children worldwide by 2030 to become changemakers for a better world. Additionally, we advocate for society to include children in co-designing shared futures.

In today's world, education must encompass more than just knowledge; it must foster critical thinking, collaboration, and technological literacy. That's why Designathon Works focuses on empowering children aged 5-12 globally to design sustainable futures using simple technologies through our structured, collaborative, and open-ended design process.

Our 7-step guided-play approach, which is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), engages children in addressing real-world issues like water scarcity and climate change.

In a Designathon, children design, build, and present their ideas. Through this process, they not only gain knowledge but also develop 21st-century skills such as creative thinking, collaboration, and technological literacy. Guided play has been shown to benefit children's social skills, self-regulation, and creativity, fostering well-adjusted, problem-solving individuals.

Participation in our programs empowers children to actively contribute to creating a better, sustainable, and inclusive world.

To achieve this, the Designathon method offers:

• Truly inclusive, child-centered, and hands-on programs, available both online and offline.

• Streamlined, simple, highly contextual, and easy-to-use lesson materials designed for children.

• Integration of technology through a maker kit containing basic technological components like motors, solar panels, and LED lights. Depending on the project, we introduce the basics of AI and coding to enable children to incorporate those topics into their ideas.

• Value-added lesson materials, teacher guidelines, and training sessions presented with a focus on design, simplicity, and engaging communication.

• Facilitation scripts for international events, workshops, and training sessions, available in both online and offline formats.

The projects undertaken by Designathon Works serve various purposes:

• Conducting research into children's needs or their vision on a topic.

• Raising awareness among children, parents, and teachers on a range of issues.

• Providing alternative and innovative education for children, including 21st-century skills.

• Generating evidence on children's needs for lobbying and advocacy.

• Amplifying impact globally through local networking efforts.

In each project, we prioritize establishing rich collaborations between our Network Partners and sponsors, which include companies, social enterprises, and NGOs. Together, all the stakeholders in our ecosystem work towards influencing decision-makers and policymakers, ensuring that the voices of youth are heard on critical issues such as clean energy, water scarcity, inequality, and sustainable food systems.

Our focus on monitoring and evaluation ensures continual refinement for maximum effectiveness and sustainability as we scale up our efforts to address challenges in education quality.

We drive transformative change across three vital fronts:

1. CHILDREN

Current Situation of Children:

Globally, a significant number of children lack access to comprehensive education that prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. They are often deprived of crucial knowledge linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and essential skills like creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and adaptability. Consequently, they face barriers to thriving in today's rapidly evolving world, undermining their potential for future success. Particularly concerning are children from marginalized backgrounds who not only lack access to resources but also struggle with confidence and agency to effect positive change in their communities due to systemic obstacles.

How we impact children:

• We empower children by providing them with comprehensive knowledge on SDG-related issues, equipping them to understand and engage with pressing global challenges.

• We nurture essential 21st-century skills, fostering creativity, effective communication, collaboration, technological literacy and adaptability, essential for navigating today's dynamic world with confidence and competence.

• We instil in children the confidence and agency to take meaningful action within their communities, empowering them to make a tangible difference and become catalysts for positive change.

1. TEACHERS

Current situation for teachers/facilitators: 

Many educators and facilitators lack access to adequate resources and professional development opportunities essential for effectively teaching SDG themes and implementing innovative methodologies like project-based learning and Maker Education. This deficiency hampers their ability to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

How we impact teachers and facilitators:

• We bolster educators' professional growth by offering comprehensive resources and training in SDG themes, project-based learning, and Maker Education methodologies, empowering them to create engaging and impactful learning environments.

• We support teachers in honing their skills to effectively impart crucial knowledge and foster essential competencies in their students, ensuring they are adequately prepared to navigate complex global challenges.

1. COMMUNITY

Current situation within the community: 

In underserved communities, there exists a dearth of avenues for children to voice their perspectives and contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes. This lack of inclusivity not only disempowers young community members but also deprives communities of innovative solutions to pressing issues. Without the input of children, communities risk overlooking diverse perspectives, leading to less informed and equitable outcomes.

How we impact the community:

• By actively listening to children, we cultivate inclusivity and empowerment within communities, providing platforms for their voices to be heard and valued.

• We leverage the fresh perspectives of children to inform decision-making processes, enriching community discourse and leading to more informed and equitable outcomes.

• Through active participation, children develop a sense of ownership and empathy, strengthening community bonds and fostering a culture of collaboration and support.

• Children serve as inspiring role models, demonstrating positive values and behaviors that inspire both their peers and adults to actively engage in community-building efforts.

• Together, stakeholders in our ecosystem collaborate to amplify the voices of youth, influencing decision-makers and policymakers on critical issues such as clean energy, water scarcity, inequality, and sustainable food systems.

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver the solution for four key reasons:

Firstly, what sets Designathon apart is its innovative and proven educational approach, which empowers children as proactive change agents in their communities and the world. Unlike traditional methods, Designathon fosters holistic skill development essential for 21st-century success. Through collaborative design processes, children acquire critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. By immersing children in real-world challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, Designathon cultivates deeper understanding and practical application of knowledge. Tackling real-world issues enables children to gain a deeper understanding of global problems and learn to apply their knowledge and skills to effect positive change. The play-based methodology harnesses children's curiosity and creativity, promoting active engagement and exploration for enhanced learning experiences. Additionally, the Designathon methodology is highly adaptable to diverse contexts, including crisis or conflict zones. By providing flexible lesson materials and training, Designathon can be implemented effectively in a variety of settings, ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to participate and thrive. Moreover, Designathon fosters community engagement and collaboration, empowering both individual children and their communities to drive sustainable change.

Secondly, our expansive network spanning over 50 countries enables us to reach a diverse range of children and provide them with opportunities for social and environmental education, skill development, and the amplification of their voices. Together, we continuously learn and develop new approaches to engage society, promote children's inclusion, influence decision-makers, measure our impact, and develop context-relevant solutions.

Thirdly, we prioritize collaboration and co-creation by actively involving stakeholders such as children, teachers, and partners in program development. Themes are developed in partnership with stakeholders to ensure contextual relevance. This collaborative approach ensures that our initiatives resonate with local communities and address their specific needs effectively.

Lastly, in each project, we prioritize establishing rich collaborations between our Network Partners and sponsors, including companies, social enterprises, and NGOs. Together, all stakeholders in our ecosystem work towards influencing decision-makers and policymakers, ensuring that the voices of youth are heard on critical issues such as clean energy, water scarcity, inequality, and sustainable food systems.

Together with our team, we've shown that running an educational organization with a social and environmental focus isn't just a cute idea; it's a practical approach to shaping the next generation's understanding of critical issues while ensuring children's voices are heard. Here's what we've accomplished:

• Exponential Impact: We've reached over 119,000 children changemakers across 50 countries. To date, we've trained 2,400 individuals and facilitated the creation of over 38,000 children’s inventions.

• Collaborative Network: Our international community includes dozens of hubs and thousands of teachers, along with support from global clients and partners such as Patagonia, Tony's Chocolonely Foundation, ASML Foundation, Bugaboo, Dopper, Microsoft, ERASMUS PLUS KA2 Strategic Partnerships+, Ashoka, and WWF.

• Diverse Business Model: We've expanded our revenue streams beyond grants to include commissioned work, partnerships, and alternative financing, resulting in a 13x revenue growth.

• Versatile Projects: Our initiatives span schools, community centers, libraries, and museums worldwide. With a diverse team comprising experts in design, education, policy, research, and child psychology, we bring varied perspectives to our projects, ensuring they are both engaging and effective.

• Significant Impact: Our efforts are supported by a wealth of evidence from implementation evaluations, experiences, and research studies. Testimonials and feedback highlight increased confidence, critical thinking, and agency among participants. Quantitative data reveal measurable gains in knowledge, creativity, teamwork, and self-efficacy.

• Impact Stories: Notable achievements include impact tools for the EU program Design Futures, research outcomes informing the Chocolonely Foundation, and annual Global Children’s Designathon reports capturing the voices of the next generation. Additionally, our impact has been recognized through features like Designathon Dream and Designathon Works on CNN, along with selection as one of the 100 inspiring innovations in education by Hundred.

Here are some notes on our work:

• “Approximately 70% of participating children in the Global Children’s Designathon indicate they are very worried about the world’s climate problems. Level of concern appears unrelated to country of origin or SDG progress, with high concern reported in all countries.”

• “In 2019, children from Abuja, Accra, Geneva, and Amsterdam scored highest on changemaking ability, reflecting their level of concern, empathy, self-confidence, and collaboration.”

• “The poverty Designathon provided a new way to address a difficult topic in the classroom. I was impressed with the increase in empathy between students from different income backgrounds.” 

In summary, our organization is poised for continued growth and impact, driven by our proven track record, collaborative approach, and commitment to empowering children to drive positive change in their communities and beyond.

Effective strategic planning, program evaluation, and scaling strategies are extremely significant for us to broaden our reach and amplify our impact. Solve's vast network of partners and collaborators serves as a valuable springboard for forging new connections and collaborations. Leveraging Solve's connections can help with strategies for scaling,  introductions to potential funders, strategic partners, and organizations with aligned missions, all focused on extending the reach of our programs to more children globally.

We are actively seeking targeted skill development opportunities tailored to our specific needs, with a keen focus on areas such as scaling strategies, research fundraising and impact measurement. Strengthening our capabilities in these areas is essential for advancing our mission effectively.

Gaining visibility on Solve's platform, participating in Solve's events and conferences, and being featured in Solve's communications channels would significantly enhance awareness about our initiatives and attract potential supporters and collaborators to join our cause.

We applaud Solve's commitment to connecting Solver teams with funding opportunities, and we eagerly anticipate exploring potential funding partnerships and opportunities facilitated by Solve to drive our growth and expansion efforts forward.

Designathon Works approaches the problem of quality education in a significantly improved way by introducing a proven methodology that empowers children to become changemakers. Unlike traditional educational approaches that focus solely on knowledge acquisition, our solution fosters holistic skill development, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and technological literacy. Through our guided-play process linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), children engage in real-world challenges, gaining practical skills and knowledge while addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, gender discrimination and poverty.

This innovative approach has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in the education space. As can be demonstrated through our powerful network in over 50 countries, we inspire educators, policymakers, and organizations to adopt similar approaches. Designathon Works serves as a model for inclusive and sustainable education, prompting others to rethink traditional teaching methods and embrace more participatory and child-centered approaches. This shift towards collaborative and experiential learning can lead to a more dynamic and effective educational landscape, better preparing children for the challenges of the 21st century.

Furthermore, Designathon Works has the potential to change the market landscape by creating demand for innovative educational solutions that prioritize skill development and real-world application. As awareness grows about the importance of future focused education and the need to address global challenges, there is an opportunity for organizations and businesses to develop products and services aligned with this paradigm shift. This could lead to the emergence of a new market segment focused on socially and environmentally conscious education, with Designathon Works serving as a pioneer and thought leader in this space.

Our Theory of Change (TOC) involves disseminating the Designathon method by establishing a changemaker pathway for children worldwide through collaboration with our network partners. We aim to impart new skills, empower them with the agency to co-create a better world, and enable their prosperity along with the planet.

A more detailed version of our TOC can be found below.

INPUTS

Final beneficiaries Children

• Designathon method, educational materials, training  and guiding resources for facilitators and teachers

• Effort and time of the DW team and all our partners

Primary stakeholders: Network partners

• Providing a platform and tools for engagement

• Coordinating knowledge sharing, coaching, and best practices

• Fundraising support

• Conducting impact research

Decision/Policy makers

• Collective advocacy

ACTIVITIES

Final beneficiaries Children

• Running (online) design challenges on SDG’s 

• Hosting the annual finals (Global Childrenʼs Designathon)

• Co-creating the Global Changemaker community

Primary stakeholders: Network partners

• Supporting and coaching

• Identifying and onboarding partners

• Evaluating (PMEL) and sharing results/impact

• Fundraising

Decision/Policy makers

Identifying and engaging with policy/decision makers to incorporate children's input into policy decisions

OUTPUT

Final beneficiaries Children

• 1,000,000 children part of the global Changemaker community

• 100,000 children participating in challenges yearly

• 1,000 finalists yearly

• Resulting in 33,000 innovations around the SDGs yearly

Primary stakeholders: Network partners

• 10 active network partners covering 50 countries

• Influencing 3,000 facilitators and teachers yearly

Decision/Policy makers 

• Innovations combined with impact research results presented in whitepapers to inform local and global governments

OUTCOMES

Final beneficiaries Children

Children develop:

• Develop changemaker skills and knowledge on SDGs (ST)

• Feel empowered to take action and develop a sense of agency (ST)

• Forge their own changemaker path(LT)

• Gain 21st-century skills and utilize technology and science creatively to solve global problems (LT)

Primary stakeholders: Network partners

Network Partners will be:

• Share learnings (ST) and push for collective advocacy )(LT)

• Serve as the convener of the child (LT) and promote SDG education via alternative routes (LT)

Decision/Policy makers

• More and more NGO’s, Corporates, governmental bodies invite children on important forums (ST)

• Local and global governments see DW as a key entity to involve children in multi-stakeholder collaborations (LT)

IMPACT

Final beneficiaries Children

Educate 1 million children as change- makers to design a better world using new technologies.

Primary stakeholders: Network partners

Network partners sustainably engage children to become change-makers to solve 21st century problems

Decision/Policy makers

Policy and decision makers engage children and take their input into policy making processes and decision making

*(ST) = Short term outcome

  (LT) = Long term outcome

Our impact goals for Designathon Works are centered around empowering children to become proactive change makers, fostering critical skills development, and promoting awareness and action on global challenges. Specifically, our impact goals include:

Empowering children to address real-world challenges: We aim to empower children to identify, design, and implement solutions to real-world challenges such as climate change, poverty, and water scarcity. Our progress towards this goal is measured by the number of Designathon workshops conducted, the diversity of themes addressed, and the quality and feasibility of solutions generated by children.

Fostering critical skills development: We seek to foster the development of critical 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and technological literacy among children. Progress towards this goal is measured through pre- and post-workshop assessments of children's skills, feedback from teachers and facilitators, and observations of children's engagement and participation during workshops.

Promoting awareness and action on global challenges: We aim to raise awareness and inspire action on pressing global challenges such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among children, educators, and communities. Progress towards this goal is measured by surveys and interviews assessing changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to global challenges before and after participation in Designathon workshops, as well as the dissemination and impact of children's solutions in their communities.

At Designathon Works, our focus lies in leveraging simple technology via our Makerkits, to inspire children to learn through hands-on exploration and experimentation. These kits typically contain various components and materials, including recyclable waste material, which children can utilize to construct prototypes linked to specific SDG themes. We meticulously select the components of maker kits to facilitate learning through experimentation and exploration. Additionally, we incorporate robotics, drones, mobile apps, and audiovisual media into the process.

Maker Education is integral to Designathon projects, particularly during the 'Make' step, where STEM elements, especially in Engineering and Technology, are seamlessly integrated. However, STEM integration extends beyond these fields, encompassing the scientific method, numeracy, and geometry skills throughout the Designathon process.

The 'Make' step offers more than just a grasp of how a motor operates. It serves as a crucial component for achieving STEM objectives by:

• Providing practical understanding of an idea

• Teaching children to identify materials effectively

• Introducing construction techniques

• Enhancing technological literacy through education on robotics, drones, mobile apps, and audiovisual media

• Instilling a methodical approach to problem-solving and idea testing

• Encouraging innovative thinking with problem-solving at its core

• Applying mathematical, scientific, engineering, and technological concepts to enhance idea creativity

• Fostering out-of-the-box and often ‘without any box’ thinking and innovation.

In essence, Maker Education within Designathon projects not only facilitates hands-on learning but also nurtures critical STEM skills and fosters a mindset of innovation and creativity among children.

Full-time: 2

Part-time: 5

Freelancers: 6

Other contractors: 2

Designathon Works is a non-profit organization with 501c status under US law, (the Dutch equivalent is the ANBI status), based in Amsterdam. Our aim is to provide 1 million children with the opportunity to design a better world by the year 2030. Since our establishment in 2014, Designathon Works has reached over 119,000 children in more than 50 countries.

Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into our work is fundamental to Designathon Works. Diversity is not only embraced but celebrated as a cornerstone of our model. This is reflected in our leadership team as well as the Board of Designathon Works. Our team embodies the rich diversity of the communities we serve, ensuring that a broad range of perspectives informs our decision-making processes. Additionally, our commitment to inclusivity is exemplified by our Youth Council, comprising children who actively contribute to shaping our initiatives. Through our global network partners spanning over 50 countries, diversity is woven into the fabric of our programs. Our programs serve as platforms for children from diverse backgrounds to come together, exchange ideas, and collaborate on solutions to real-world challenges. By fostering cross-cultural connections and encouraging the sharing of experiences and perspectives, we cultivate empathy, understanding, and respect among participants. This not only breaks down stereotypes and biases but also promotes a sense of global citizenship. Our extensive network has reached over 100,000 children worldwide, where a significant portion come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Whether they are from refugee children in the Netherlands and Kakuma refugee camp, the slums of Nairobi, the classrooms of Belgium, India and Nepal, or the winners of the Shanghai Science Fair, our commitment to diversity remains unwavering.

Our strategy for achieving financial sustainability at Designathon Works revolves around a multi-faceted approach, aligning with the components of the social business model canvas.

Key Resources:

Our organization relies on essential resources such as skilled personnel, brand name,  impressive board, and access to networks and communities in over 50 countries that includes organizations, corporates, schools and Government entities.

Key Activities:

We engage in designing theme based designations, that includes research, designing the curriculum and conducting designathons /workshops. This is done alongside non-program tasks including fundraising and partnership development.

Type of Intervention:

Our interventions primarily take the form of short and long term projects, offering research, curriculum design, workshops for children as well as educators and  interactive sessions to educate and empower beneficiaries.

Segments:

Our interventions benefit various segments including children, educators, schools, and communities. Entities such as foundations, corporations, and governments contribute financially to address pertinent issues.

Value Propositions:

We offer customized educational content based on the proven designathon methodology and linked to SDG themes. We bring key insights / children’s voices for advocacy, policy and program design includes strategic frameworks for various beneficiaries. 

Key Partners / Stakeholders:

We collaborate with network partners globally, schools, corporations, foundations/NGOs, and government bodies to deliver programs effectively and secure necessary resources. Our connections with these stakeholders are essential for the success of our initiatives.

Channels:

We utilize direct engagement channels like workshops and designathons, alongside partnerships and network collaborations to reach beneficiaries and secure funding.

Cost Structure:

Our primary expenditures include personnel costs, program expenses, administrative costs, and fundraising expenses. These areas evolve as we scale up our operations.

Surplus:

Profits generated are reinvested into program expansion and community outreach, ensuring sustainability and growth.

Revenue:

Our revenue streams include commissioned projects, grants and donations, and partnerships with network partners. These sources contribute to covering our operational expenses and driving our impact globally. Examples of successful projects include collaborations with Tony's Chocolonely Foundation, Dopper and ASML, where we have reached thousands of children and facilitated innovative solutions to pressing issues.

With our business model we strive to create a sustainable financial framework that enables us to continue our mission of empowering children and communities worldwide. 

At Designathon Works, we are committed to achieving financial sustainability through a multifaceted approach that leverages various revenue streams to cover our expenses and ensure the long-term viability of our organization.

Firstly, we generate revenue through commission-based projects with (corporate) partners. For instance, Dopper collaborated with us on a 250,000 Euro project across five countries, to find solutions to single-use plastic. Similarly, Tony's Chocolonely Foundation funded a 198,000 Euro program where children in cocoa-growing communities devised solutions to improve their surroundings, with one idea per community being implemented. Microsoft funded a 36,000 Euro multi stakeholder program in one of the communities living around the datacentre on healthy food and learning. 

Additionally,  we actively pursue grants and donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals who share our mission and values. These funds support our core programs, research initiatives, and operational costs. Our dedicated team focuses on grant writing and fundraising efforts, securing funding from diverse sources such as SIDN, ERASMUS PLUS funded projects like Food Rescue, Climate Classrooms and Design Futures. These grants range from 10,000 Euros to 100,000 Euros and have been instrumental in building the foundation of our organization.

Furthermore we find sponsors for our annual Global Children’s Designathon (GCD). Partners like the Municipality of Amsterdam, Bugaboo and Patagonia funded the GCD for multiple years, with an average amount per partner of 10,000 Euro’s per year. ASML was the exception because they sponsored our GCD with 27,000 Euros annually for three years, totaling 81,000 Euros.

Lastly, we have successfully secured a soft loan of 55,000 Euros from 3 ladies of the Ashoka Support Network.This group were interested in a female led-organization. Of course that is not an option when building a foundation. Therefore we got creative and came up with something we call a “soft loan”. We received 55K under very soft conditions, meaning we only started paying back the loan after a few years and based on our impact the conditions can become even “softer”.

Strategic partnerships and collaborations play a pivotal role in our financial sustainability strategy. By teaming up with organizations that share our vision, we amplify our impact and access additional resources, expertise, and funding. Our partnerships involve joint programming, co-branded initiatives, and shared fundraising efforts. Notably, these collaborations are enabling us to diversify our revenue streams, mitigate risks, and adapt to changing market conditions effectively.

In assessing the success of our financial sustainability plan, we point to our track record of securing grants, generating revenue from commission-based projects, and forming strategic partnerships with leading organizations. We regularly review our financial performance and projections, ensuring alignment with our long-term sustainability goals. This ongoing assessment allows us to optimize our revenue streams and achieve financial stability, ultimately empowering us to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of children worldwide.