Open call Spotlight

Spotlight on Education for Societal Change

How can education catalyse the evolution of society? Through this Spotlight on Education for Societal Change, we will seek out innovative solutions originating from the Global South* that can help educators to equip learners to be agents of social change.

Submissions close on December 8, 2025.

In partnership with VVOB

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The challenge

Education has the potential to contribute to shaping a better future for society. However, most narratives about education centre dominant western models despite the diversity of alternative approaches that are taking place around the world. There is a need to highlight educational practices from the Global South that are supporting societal change.

The solution

By conducting this Spotlight, we aim to highlight educational solutions originating from the Global South that are contributing to societal change. Ultimately, we aim to bring together a selection of high-quality, evidence-backed, scalable innovations that inspire positive change across education ecosystems and can strengthen the quality of education through reshaping values and opportunities.

What is Education for Societal Change?

Education systems, and educators, by association, are often expected to take responsibility for changing society through wider ecosystem policies, district- or school-wide mandates, or within the classrooms. It is our belief that education contributes to societal change, and does so at a level beyond the individual or the classroom, acting as a spur toward shaping a better future. This requires that leaders in various parts of the educational ecosystem (ministry, community, school, and classroom) have the skills to call government and industry to action. They will have the skills to understand change processes and social activism, deciding what kinds of teaching should be taking place to build those skills in learners.

In this Spotlight, HundrED, on behalf of VVOB, is looking for educational practices originating from the Global South that catalyse societal change through approaches such as, but not limited to, peace education, gender equity, inclusivity, climate action, and social justice.

*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.

What kind of innovations are we looking for?

We are looking for submissions originating from any country of the world that identifies as part of the Global South that are working on educational practices that catalyse societal change:

For children from early childhood through high school and vocational school;
For teacher professional development and training;
From formal and non-formal education; for example after school programs, community based programmes, practical trainings;
That are working in the public and/or private sectors;
From grassroots organisations or educators, non-governmental organisations, non-profit and for-profit entities.

Please note that you can apply to this and all HundrED Spotlights in languages other than English.

Why should you apply?

Innovators selected for this Spotlight will benefit from international recognition of their work and international networking opportunities. Selected innovators will be invited to join a community of practice, led by VVOB, alongside other impactful innovators working in this space. If you are interested in taking your work to the next level, this is the opportunity for you.

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