Is it still possible to launch a new project during a pandemic? We’re seeing changemakers around the world step up to say “yes.”

The platforms we use to connect with each other can also enable us to create solutions that help our communities to thrive, even during difficult times. Read on to discover how to innovate right where you are, whether it’s on Instagram, Zoom, or even a platform that you will dream up yourself!

Ashoka Young Changemaker Garvita Gulhati knows the power of a hashtag. At age 15, Garvita learned about India’s water crisis and founded Why Waste? with a friend, hoping to reduce the 3.7 million gallons wasted in restaurants each day. She asked local restaurants in Bangalore to make simple changes like filling glasses only half full — and took #GlassHalfFull viral on social media.

The #GlassHalfFull campaign eventually convinced the National Restaurant Association of India to adopt its recommendations. So far, Why Waste? has saved 2 million liters of water and counting, and it’s reached about 2 million people. The group is working on changing national policy to press for water conservation and to declare a national water emergency.

Whether bringing awareness to injustice, lifting up other voices, or organizing mass movements, platforms like Instagram and Twitter are must-use tools for changemakers.

HOW TO:

Consider an issue that matters to you, then survey the landscape on social media. Is anyone talking about it? What’s missing in the conversation — and how could you bring in new perspectives? What calls-to-action can you promote?

• Create a “challenge” to encourage simple changes that make a difference
• Organize a series of online “town halls”
• Make petitions & an action strategy

Mentors often play a key role in our own stories and inspire us to make a difference for others. Thanks to digital tech, we can find mentors outside of our immediate community we would have never met — but we still need someone to make the connections. That’s where you can come in!

Malavika and her team at Homegirl Project are already at work, training the next generation of girls and non-binary youth of color in the U.S. to be leaders by digitally connecting them with one-on-one support. They match girls with women in their career fields, helping them to grow as advocates.

Peers can be great mentors, too! Ask how you can connect young people who have shared passions and something to teach each other.

HOW TO:

Who’s in your network? Who do you and your friends wish you had access to? How could making these connections lead to skill-building or social change?

• Poll your peers to learn about their goals. Talk over the idea with your own community & mentors.
• Figure out your target groups
• Do outreach via email, social media, or community newsletters

Carlitos Rodriguez was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High when a gunman opened fire, killing 17 and injuring 17 more. After he began sharing his story as a survivor, Carlitos founded Stories Untold US to connect with people who have experienced gun violence by building relationships and support systems via social media. Stories Untold US includes organic, unfiltered messages from everyday people affected by gun violence.

Through these stories, along with other creative pursuits, Carlitos is seeking to form a healing community. Personal stories have the power to reach people on a deep level, bringing us together and inspiring action.

HOW TO:

What’s your story? How can you connect your own story with those of people around you? What voices or perspectives need to be heard? How can you use these stories to build a movement?

• Create a community “call-out” to solicit stories
• Create a team of storytellers to put together a publication on a website or social media platform
• Invite others to join the movement

It may seem like for every problem, “there’s an app for that.” Truth is, there are still many digital solutions that have yet to be discovered.

Hannah Lucas came up with the idea of the notOK App® during 9th grade. She struggled with a chronic illness called POTS that made her faint, and she developed severe depression. Her younger brother and tech enthusiast, Charlie, created an app for her: when she pressed a button, five friends would be allerted that she wasn’t ok and sent her GPS location. They realized that the mental health app, which “takes the guesswork out of asking for help,” could support others, too.

Apps are powerful tools — and so are websites, databases, and other platforms. Thanks to the abundance of tech tutorials and coding classes available, almost anyone can learn how to harness them for positive change.

HOW TO:

What problem have you seen or experienced that digital tech might help to solve? How could you use the tech skills you already have, develop new skills, or partner with a tech-savvy friend to build a solution? How can you work with end users to make sure it’s useful?

• Do research and polling to figure out who your users are
• Look at what other tools are out there and what’s missing
• Dive into development!

For many, in-person gatherings aren’t possible right now. But meeting online can allow us to bring together people from different places or walks of life. In the past, Ara — a changemaker in Indonesia — typically hosted workshops and events in Java. By moving online last summer, she saw how anyone could take advantage of the chance to connect.

Young changemakers can bring people together — from creating climate change coalitions to setting up spaces where people can share stories and build deeper understanding.

HOW TO:

What kind of connections are you/your friends craving? How can you bring people together to work towards the common good? How might you connect groups of different — or like-minded — people?

• Find friends who are interested in creating a new community
• Host a group call to co-create the purpose and plan
• Launch a fun and/or educational event to get to know each other!

Online education goes beyond school classwork. From teaching financial literacy, to setting up workshops especially for young women in STEM, young changemakers are educating each other in powerful ways. Take 3C Entrepreneurship Academy, for example: a digital learning program designed by and for young people who want to build social impact businesses. When it comes to learning, there’s no limit.

HOW TO:

What’s a subject or skill that’s important to you? How can you help to make this knowledge accessible to more people? What experts do you know? How might you build an inclusive and inviting learning journey?

• Find resources and people with expertise in the subject
• Work with peers, teachers, or community members to create a curriculum
• Try it out with people you know, and keep iterating!

Feeling inspired? Brainstorm ideas, build a team, and start planning your own project!

If you’re a young person age 13–18 in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, learn how you can submit your idea for a chance to win funding and support. (Deadline is March 31, 2021).