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    Sweden change leader story equality 2023

    Raising the voices and improving conditions for children and youth living in foster care

    Historically there has been a stigma surrounding children and youth growing up in foster care. To combat this, to work to improve the situation for those in care, and to make sure the voices of the ones affected are heard, Knas Hemma was founded in 2013. Today they are part of our Swedish Incubator program, aiming to help social entrepreneurs scale and take their initiatives to the next level. We sat down with Anna Sabelström, Emiliya Larsson and Jennie Persson Thörnqvist, three forces behind the organization, to talk about what drives them, what challenges they have faced and what they have learned from it.

    change leader story Bulgaria equality 2023

    A pioneer gym for children with disabilities

    Sports play a crucial role in the lives of children with disabilities, offering a wide range of benefits that positively impact their physical, mental, and social well-being. However, in Bulgaria, there are few sports facilities equipped for the needs of children with disabilities. Determined to change that, Svetoslav Zahariev founded Zahariev Fight Team - a pioneering gym which provides adapted equipment and regular training sessions for children with disabilities and special need

    Sweden change leader story equality 2023

    Turning fear into fins

    That a girl who grew up far from water, without any experience or knowledge of swimming, would take her first swims on her own as an eighteen-year-old; and then training as a swimming instructor and starting her own swimming school, is a story that inspires. Muna Idow is the mermaid who found her fins relatively late in life and who has made it her life's project to spread the love of water further.

    Sweden change leader story equality 2023

    Sounds of hope: Reshaping suburban children's lives

    A child of Caribbean immigrants, Jean-Charles Cari grew up with his mum in the rough suburbs of Paris and saw many of his friends end up on the wrong path. But role models and music saved his life. Ten years ago he moved to Sweden and when he recognized himself in many of the young teenagers, he decided to offer them what he had helped him, and so Artozik was born.

    Sweden change leader story 2023

    Training for a more equal society

    Throughout her life, our Change Leader Susan Dahlbeck experienced how local gyms in Järva outside of Stockholm were dominated by men and lacked safe places for young women. As health issues have increased in socio-economic challenged areas, she decided to start Healthy Women - a network for young women to engage in physical activities and ongoing social gatherings. We talked with her about her journey and the impact created by Healthy Women.

    Sweden education change leader story 2023

    Inclusive environments for kids: lessons from a social entrepreneur

    The close environment has a big impact on how children interpret social structures, and how they interact with each other. It’s up to us adults to create an environment that reflect that we’re all equally important. Our Change Leader Johanna Abdo, founder of the Swedish educational brand Elsa och Sam has dedicated herself to creating more inclusive environments for kids. We talked with her about her entrepreneurial journey and the products and impact she’s creating.

    2022 impact story change leader story Ethiopia

    Staying true to your dreams and identity against all odds

    After all the challenges Hamere is now one of the most successful women in Addis Ababa, an example and inspiration for others. Hamere’s dream is to help children rediscover traditional values, bring out their talents and foster a culture of peace, tolerance, and respect.

    2022 change leader story impact Bulgaria

    Overcoming prejudice through family love

    When Silvena Hristova and Krasimir Lambov had a daughter with Down syndrome, they were advised by their doctor, like many other parents in Bulgaria, to place the child in foster care and move on with their lives without her.

    2022 change leader story

    Sustainable clothing for children with diabetes

    “I never planned that I would be making clothing in my life, but around 6 years ago my friend’s little boy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I wanted to step in and to fill the gap in the market. We couldn’t find anything similar.” - shares Simona Koncyte, a founder of a sustainable clothing brand for children with diabetes.

    ghana 2022 impact story change leader story

    Reclaiming the life of a slave child

    When James Kofi Annan was 6, the youngest child of an illiterate family, he was sold into child slavery. He worked as a child fisherman in Lake Volta in Ghana. His working day started at 3am and ended at 8pm, and was full of physically demanding work. He was malnutritioned, abused, didn’t have access to medical care, education. He didn’t have any rights.

    2022 impact story change leader story Bulgaria

    Turning one of the poorest regions in the EU into an attractive digital industry hub

    Emiliyan Kadiyski and Teodor Kostadinov were born in Vratsa, Bulgaria - one of the poorest regions of the European Union. There are almost no functioning large businesses, educational levels are low and the entrepreneurial spirit is lacking.

    2022 impact story change leader story Ethiopia

    Building a strong and inclusive tech society by teaching children how to code

    Nathan Damtew studied computer science at the University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. When he started his education, he struggled to understand and learn how to work with programming. A big reason for this was that he had no introduction to coding before he started University. That’s when the idea came of introducing coding much earlier for children and youth, in order to prepare them for future education.