Our Impact 2022
Message from our CEO, Sofia Breitholtz
A year of staying resilient
2022 saw us coming out of a global pandemic. Little did we know that the resilience we had built up would be needed now more than ever. In early 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. There were violence and conflicts in several of our markets, and the effects of the climate change were felt more than ever. In such tumultuous times, the entrepreneurs we work with every day have shown us how to be brave in the face of crises, and have demonstrated how to build back a more equitable, sustainable and just society. We also experienced how strong partnerships can support us in responding quickly to the many complex and converging challenges we face.
Message from our Director of Programs & Impact, Shifteh Malithano
Evolving our impact framework
We have continuously invested, expanded, iterated and improved our impact measurement systems and frameworks to ensure we are an impact-driven organization. We carefully select and support entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs who are driven by a deep-rooted desire to address pressing social and environmental challenges. We also facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and learning among the actors in the ecosystem. Our aim is that not only will this enable better conditions for entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs, but also multiply their impact and create synergy that goes beyond the individual achievements.
Our Impact in 2022
Reach for Change has never before run as many impactful programs as we have done in 2022 - from piloting support of green entrepreneurs, through deep diving in the ed-tech sector or empowering entrepreneurs who have the keys to integration, to strengthening our networks and cross-border collaboration to serve our communities better - this has been a busy year.
Over 800 aspiring and active entrepreneurs supported
Over 1000 actors engaged in ecosystem development activities
Over 14 000 children and 890 youth supported by our entrepreneurs
Capacity Development Programs
We run Innovation Labs, Incubators and Scaling Readiness Programs, targeting local (social) entrepreneurs with innovative solutions for poverty, inequality and climate change issues, as well as Entrepreneurship Bootcamps and Women and Youth Empowerment Programs.
Catalyzing green business in Ethiopia
With the support of the IKEA Foundation, has been implementing a pilot project in Ethiopia aimed at inspiring young people to establish green enterprises. In collaboration with four higher education institutions in Addis Ababa, we've organized Green Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for 359 students and a Green Innovation Lab for selected early proof of concept stage entrepreneurs.
With IKEA Foundation
Driving inclusion through social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria
For 9 years together with Nova Broadcasting Group we've been supporting social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to pressing issues for children and youth in Bulgaria. One of them was Svetoslav Zahariev, founder of Zahariev Fight Team - a pioneering gym which provides adapted equipment and regular training sessions for children with disabilities and special needs.
With Nova Broadcasting Group
Supporting innovations that reduce inequalities in Sweden
Our Incubator program in Sweden helps social entrepreneurs in the proof of concept and early growth stage further develop their organization, with the purpose of making life better for as many youths and children as possible. In 2022, one of the supported Change Leaders was Muna Idow, founder of Mermaid Simskola, that strives to make swimming accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Scaling ed-tech solutions in Ghana
Despite significant progress in recent decades, the Ghanaian educational system continues to face several challenges. In our Scaling Readiness program, done in partnership with the Jacobs Foundation, we're equipping 10 outstanding edupreneurs with the resources and skills to strengthen and scale the impact of their ed-tech solutions.
with the Jacobs Foundation
Ecosystem Development Programs
Successfully growing or scaling a solution is almost impossible if you are working in a fragmented ecosystem. Our ecosystem development activities include advocacy and awareness, fostering collaboration between sectors and capacity building for key actors.
Empowering youth and women in Ghana to advocate for their economic rights
Poverty is a major and multidimensional issue in Ghana, preventing individuals especially young people and women from enjoying a right to economic security. Through Forum CIV, together with Social Enterprise Ghana, we're enabling young people and women living in poverty to advocate for and gain access to services that should be made available to them to become sustainably self-employed or start a small business.
with Social Enterprise Ghana
Enhancing the ecosystem for early growth social entrepreneurs in Bulgaria
To help close the funding gap for early-growth social entrepreneurs in Bulgaria, with the support of the European Commission, we launched the cross-sectoral initiative the Valley of Growth. The project included mapping and research activities to better understand the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria, designing and verifying a new financial instrument and creating an impact community of social entrepreneurs, investors and experts.
Funded by the European Comission
Fostering cross-sector dialogue and partnerships
The fifth global edition of our Partnering for Change event series gathered over 30 speakers from the public, business and social sector for a half-day filled with thought provoking discussions on cross-sector partnerships, building resilience into our systems and the role of social entrepreneurs in a time of complex challenges.
Turning up the volume on successful female entrepreneurs in Ethiopia
Together with Erq Ma’ed and with funding from the Swedish Institute we created the Voice of Change - a much-needed Ethiopian radio series to highlight the stories of strong female entrepreneurs in Ethiopia. We hosted 5 interviews with notable women, who have succeeded within the business or social sector and who have challenged the gender norms in Ethiopia.
Funded by the Swedish Institute
Stories and lessons of change
One of our key goals is to raise the awareness about the impact of social entrepreneurship and the importance of collaboration in fostering a robust ecosystem. We constantly share heartening impact stories, interviews with our social entrepreneurs and key learnings from our different markets.
Interview
Social entrepreneurship in Ukraine: driving social impact in the face of a conflict
Petro Darmoris, Board Member of the Ukrainian Social Academy, reflects on the state of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ukraine today, on the role of social entrepreneurship after the Russian invasion and on staying hopeful and driving social impact in the face of a war
by Petro Darmoris
Blogpost
Developing the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ghana
Our Country Manager in Ghana, Solomon Twum, reflects on how the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ghana has developed over the last decade, and shares insights on the national policy in the area, the local impact investing scene and what's needed in order to create more cross-sector collaborations for impact.
By Solomon Twum
Interview
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.
With Jean-Charles Cari
We reach for change together with
Our partners
We reach for change
The world is full of remarkable people who carry brilliant solutions to social problems. Since 2010, we have been empowering these people to create a world where all children reach their full potential.
Browse our Social Impact Reports