{"id":5002,"date":"2024-01-16T09:05:49","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T09:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.changex.org\/blog\/?p=5002"},"modified":"2024-01-16T09:05:49","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T09:05:49","slug":"our-2023-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.changex.org\/blog\/our-2023-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Our 2023 Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we bid farewell to 2023, we reflect on a year filled with growth, innovation, and positive impact. At ChangeX, our commitment to driving positive change in communities is stronger than ever, and this year, it\u2019s allowed us to expand our reach more globally, diversify our network of social innovators and support the next generation of changemakers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reaching new horizons<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 2023, ChangeX grew significantly, venturing into four new countries, Canada, Germany, South Africa and Ukraine, while continuing to deepen our impact across Latin America, the US and Europe. In total, we funded 1,125 projects and directly impacted 380,650 people. This expansion wasn\u2019t just about covering more ground; it was a focused effort to connect with diverse communities globally.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As part of our ongoing partnership with the LEGO Foundation, we launched funds for the first time in South Africa and Ukraine. <\/span>The realities of conflict, displacement, and the ongoing disruption of daily life in Ukraine creates an urgent need for spaces and activities that provide solace and a sense of normalcy, especially for children. <\/span>Play, in this context can become a powerful tool for healing, resilience, and emotional recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Natalia Shepel started a KABOOM! project in Ukraine, creating a \u201cRainbow\u201d room, which serves as a playful meeting space for children and the adults in their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c36 children visited the room today. And this means 25 families, dads and moms, grandparents \u2013 that\u2019s 75 adults will rejoice with us, because their children and grandchildren received incredibly bright and joyful emotions from playing and communicating in the \u201cRainbow\u201d room\u2026Children put together puzzles, solved riddles, and some simply hugged their animals. It\u2019s joyful eyes, it\u2019s bright feelings, it\u2019s an incredible New Year\u2019s holiday. Thank you to everyone who financed, accompanied, helped and supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 <\/i><\/b>Natalia Shepel, Novoukrainsky District, Ukraine<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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A robotics project, spearheaded by Lis Zacho in Frederiksberg, Denmark is helping children with special needs discover their innate curiosity and unlock their capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re in a special needs class, you tend to work only with the children you\u2019re used to. So it was a goal of mine to spread the children out more widely and to show them how talented they were. I wanted to show them they can do something completely different.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Lis Zacho, Frederiksberg<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n