UrbanChange: Transforming the Way to Measure Educational Impact
Education as a Sustainable Development Goal
The United Nations has established a set of ambitious objectives, known as the Sustainable Development Goals* (SDGs), which serve as a guiding framework for our collaborative efforts in advancing the well-being of our planet.
In the 2023 report, the outlook is grim: only 12% of targets are on track as 2030 approaches, while nearly half face challenges, and 30% have stagnated or regressed since 2015. This situation requires immediate attention.
However, the crucial question remains: how do we engage people to take actions toward achieving these goals? How can we encourage them to take action?
This is where the UrbanChange Protocol comes into play. Through UrbanChange, organizations can define objectives and effectively engage individuals in taking action to accomplish those goals.
To learn more about how it works, continue reading below.
*Sustainable Development Goals — a collection of seventeen interlinked objectives formulated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and designed to serve as a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”
**Quality Education — goal #4, “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”(source)
How to Measure the Impact of Your Budget with UrbanChange
Meeting sustainable development goals can be a challenge for cities and organizations. Engaging communities, building trust, and tracking budget impact remain pressing concerns.
Enter the UrbanChange Protocol.
This protocol offers a clear solution: it empowers organizations to set sustainable development goals, motivate people to take action toward achieving those goals, and reward them for their efforts.
Here’s how it works:
1. An organization, city, business, or leader sets a goal, like reducing car commutes. They allocate a budget to this goal.
2. People earn LocalCoins each time they use public transportation. These LocalCoins are backed by stablecoins, ensuring their reliability.
3. The LocalCoins can only be spent at approved local businesses, creating a closed-loop economy. The budget for sustainable goals circulates locally, positively impacting not only the specified goal but also the overall prosperity of the local economy.
This mechanism guarantees a transparent and effective use of funds.
Now, let’s explore some use cases.
At UrbanChange, we believe in the power of communities and every single resident. In this post, and similar posts, we present some of the use cases that emerged from our global community, representing ideas that resonate with people’s needs and aspirations.
The use cases are aligned with the following SDGs:
Let’s dive into the leading use cases in the ‘Quality Education’ category and discover how we can precisely measure the impact in each case.
Note: Images in this article are submitted by our community members, respecting their original authorship and content.
Use Case #1 — Promoting the Donation, Reuse, and Exchange of Books
Author: @benganon (X -Twitter)
Initiative: Community members can get LocalCoins by donating used books or volunteering time to help organize and distribute books to community members.
How to calculate the impact in this case?
We can imagine calculations as follows (the proportions are customizable):
- $100k = 10,000 hours of community work related to book distribution
- $50k = 10,000 books donated
- $250k = 12,500 books exchanged
How to verify the actions?
For example, dedicated individuals within the community can confirm book donations, exchanges, and the time spent contributing to the campaign’s success.
Use Case #2 — Encouraging mentorship
Author: @TheBlatherskite (X -Twitter)
Initiative: Community members can earn LocalCoins by offering their expertise as tutors or mentors to fellow community members. This mentorship can take various forms, from practitioners guiding students to experts advising junior specialists or sustainability experts educating business teams on eco-friendly practices. It can also include shared educational materials, like guides and books.
How to calculate the impact in this case?
We can imagine calculations as follows (the proportions are customizable):
- $75k = 7,500 hours of mentorship
- $100k = 5,000 guidelines created and shared with the community
- $10k = 1,000 books donated
How to verify the actions?
For instance, committed community members can validate the occurrence of mentorship. Alternatively, mentors can utilize student testimonials and event photos for verification.
Use Case #3 — Encouraging studying
Author: @O_G (X -Twitter)
Initiative: Community members can earn LocalCoins by engaging in a wide range of educational programs, spanning various fields, skills, and subjects, including sustainable living.
How to calculate the impact in this case?
We can imagine calculations as follows (the proportions are customizable):
- $100k = 20,000 hours of studying
- $25k = 2,500 tests completed
- $150k = 6,000 practical tasks done
How to verify the actions?
Verification may vary depending on the chosen learning platform. For example, students may demonstrate their progress through screenshots of completed lessons, test certificates, or feedback from teachers.
Start Turning Your Budget into Impact Today
What makes the UrbanChange protocol truly amazing is its adaptability to different needs. Whether it’s promoting climate action, education, health, or other initiatives, the protocol has the power to efficiently and transparently transform budgets into impactful outcomes.
If you’re curious to learn more about the UrbanChange protocol and how it can benefit your community, we invite you to book a demo here and discover its potential firsthand.
Are you a resident with a vision for a brighter future in your local community? Join our Quests, and become part of the UrbanChange movement. Share your use case ideas, contribute to our Medium posts, and earn exciting rewards along the way. Together, let’s create positive change and make a difference in communities around the world!
