In developing this Spotlight project with VVOB, we were very intentional in our focus on highlighting educational practices specifically from the Global South* that are supporting societal change. We narrowed the focus on the Global South because most narratives about education centre on dominant western models, despite the diversity of alternative approaches that are taking place around the world. "Rather than asking how systems in the Global South can 'catch up', we ask what global education can learn from them: about resilience in the face of climate disruption, about inclusion as a lived practice, and about education as a human right grounded in dignity, culture, and collective care," elaborates Inge Vandevyvere, Global Strategic Education Advisor, VVOB.
These approaches treat education as a shared social responsibility, inviting education actors to critically reflect on power, knowledge, and equity
This Spotlight emphasizes the transformative power that education has to shape a better future, by looking for educational practices that catalyse societal change through approaches such as, but not limited to: peace education, gender equity, inclusivity, climate action, and social justice.
How did we review the innovations?
Many of the solutions submitted were of high-quality, scoring highly on measures of ‘impact’ and ‘scalability’. Therefore, to distinguish innovations best suited for this Spotlight, our internal review team also focused on the innovative value of the solution and its suitability for the Spotlight topic. Importantly, we prioritized innovations with methodologies that diverge from Western approaches and looked for a clear clink in the solution’s approach to making societal change. "These approaches treat education as a shared social responsibility, inviting education actors to critically reflect on power, knowledge, and equity, " furthers Inge Vandevyvere.
Geographic Spread of Shortlisted Innovations
Out of 332 education solutions submitted, the HundrED research team and VVOB has shortlisted 32 solutions that will now be reviewed by our expert Advisory Board. The leading countries in the shortlist include India (with ten innovations selected), Uganda (with four), and Kenya (with three). The final selection of 10-15 solutions will be confirmed in March 2026.
The 32 Shortlisted Education Solutions
- ‘Neev’- MLE program, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India
- Amuno Rural Hub
- aProCh - a Protagonist in every Child
- Career Readiness Ecosystems
- Circle of Teachers' Learning (CTL)
- Climate Class Connection
- CodeBrave
- empowerED classrooms
- GIRLS FIRST INITIATIVE
- Global Project: Five Safe Fingers
- Iara
- Kids Education Revolution
- Learn To Play - Ithute Go Tshameka
- Magical Classrooms
- Manzil Mystics
- Movimiento STEM+
- My Village
- PadHer
- PIE: Program for Inclusive Education.
- Project Msingi
- Project Vaayu
- SINA (Social Innovation Academy)
- Six Bricks
- Storytelling and Digital Technology for Inclusive Education
- Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL)
- The STEAM Design Process & Starfish Maker
- Thriving Centre
- Trabün's Social-Emotional Learning Program
- Traveling STEAM
- Udhyam Shiksha
- Wokober Learning Approach
- Y-Ultimate: Ultimate Frisbee for Youth Development
*Global South - A term that aligns a group of countries, regardless of geographical location or economic classification, under shared interests. These countries do not form a monolith politically or economically. This Spotlight will therefore approach each self-identified Global South country of interest for specific and individual contextualities.
Learn more about the Spotlight on Education for Societal Change.
Header Photo: SINA (Social Innovation Academy)
