This is your year to be a change maker

Applications are ongoing for our social entrepreneurship programme! Powered by WorldSkills and the HP Foundation, and supported by UNESCO-UNEVOC, BeChangeMaker can help you accelerate your business idea and bring positive change into your community.

Thirty teams will be chosen to participate in the three-month programme and receive dedicated coaching and mentoring to transfer their technical skills into business ideas, as well as the opportunity to tap into a diverse global network of potential supporters and investors.

The programme includes online pitch competitions, which will lead the top five teams to a live pitch finale in Lyon, France during WorldSkills Competition 2024 in front of global audience made up of policymakers from education and industry.

Since 2017, BeChangeMaker has helped young skilled people from across the globe to turn their ideas into real impact.

“The BeChangeMaker programme helped us focus our skills and capabilities and to organize ourselves to develop our prototype,” said Johan Sebastián, co-founder of Bluecrops, a company implementing digital and technological tools for agriculture, and one of the finalists in last year’s edition.

“What we loved the most was the experience to connect with other inspirational teams from around the world and to receive motivation to continue to make an impact in our community,” he added.

Bluecrop is based on precision farming, involving a crop sensor that can measure levels of fertility, moisture, pH, and electrical conductivity to help farmers apply just the right amount of agrochemicals. Besides reducing farming costs, Bluecrops believes that their services could help farmers reduce 207kg of CO2 emissions per year.

Two friends from Nigeria are leveraging the power of AI technology to combat the distribution of counterfeit medication, a major public health threat in Africa, killing more than 1.5 million Sub-Saharan Africans every year. Their idea also made it to the final pitch in Dublin, Ireland in September 2023.

“Medvax Health is a mobile application connecting individuals and families to an extensive network of licensed and verified pharmacies,” said Dr Chioma Ozona, the CEO of the company, who adds that BeChangeMaker provided a launchpad into scaling their solution, and helped them with funding and mentoring.

The top five teams in BeChangeMaker 2024 will receive EUR 1,000 worth of customized post-programme training, and get an opportunity to be featured in UNESCO-UNEVOC‘s publications, and receive invitations to join UNESCO-UNEVOC events.

Additionally, the top three teams will each receive EUR 2,000 cash award.

Does your business idea have the potential to change the world? Follow these steps:

1. Make a team.
2. Share your challenge.
3. Submit your application before 25 May.

The list of selected teams will be made public on 31 May, with the programme starting on 3 June.

Inspire action and solve global issues! Apply to BeChangeMaker 2024