The Young Changemaker Incubator (“YCI”)
The YCI is a membership programme, run by the not-for-profit ITS Foundation, designed to help young people connect to the real world based on their own passions and interests, and explore infinite possibilities, develop ideas about what they want to do, and tailor experiences to help them achieve that.
Members begin by first learning about the United Nations and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is important they take ownership of their curiosity or passion for these and identify those they feel most strongly about. Then, they will move towards developing their own social impact initiative and registering it on the UN SDG Knowledge Platform. The SDGs are the cornerstone for any global citizen in the Decade of Action (‘20-’30). Almost all young people already have a strong moral compass. This project, however, is their first taste of becoming a moral actor, rectifying everyday injustices in the communities around them.
During and after this starter project, members will gain access to a range of experiences such as internships, entrepreneur programs, community involvement, sustainability initiatives, sports, arts, tech and blockchain, etc. They gain access to UN events and introductions to UN-affiliated companies and charities based in accordance with their project nature, and by joining other “live” initiatives of other global organizations such as the World Economic Forum aligned with the initiative. members, who have been raised to follow, now get the chance to take the lead. MXA’s network allows not just a wide choice, but choices of the very highest quality.
Key skills and experiences are developed along the way in a practical, real world environment:
- research;
- blogs to document progress
- letters of approach to professionals, academics, or others they have never met
- reflection & evaluation
YCI In the Press
International Day of Education - An Open Letter to the UN Secretary-General ( Link 1 / Link 2 / Link 3 / Link 4 / Link 5 )
ITS Redefines Sustainable Education in the GBA ( Link 1 / Link 2 / Link 3 / Link 4 / Link 5 / Link 6 )
The Birth of the Young Changemaker Incubator - A Hong Kong SDG Initiative ( Link 1 / Link 2 / Link 3 )
Learn more about MXA
The MXA Group is an impact-oriented healthcare, logistics, real estate, technology and education focused multi-family office investment venture based here in Hong Kong. It is led by a team of partners who are all graduates of Wharton School of Business and University of Pennsylvania, and who serve as their alumni interview chair in HK. Through their non-profit initiatives led by Better Together Foundation and Asia World Anti-Aging and Well-Being Association, the MXA team supports minority communities and youth entrepreneurship across Asia. The team has interviewed more than 500 high school students for university as well as 2,000 university students for internships and full-time positions, and has been supporting students through the YCI process for over 15 years.
For instance, MXA has helped students launch a surgical mask initiative by working with a Hong-Kong based face mask manufacturing company (itself a United Nations Global Compact member) and donating much needed personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies at cost to at-risk communities all across the world. Another student organized a UN SDG Youth Summit in Hong Kong, with young start-up leaders and founders participating from over twelve countries. The three-day event led to the creation of 17 new business ideas linked to the 17 SDGs, and a community of 1,000 young enthusiasts was born. This project was showcased on stage at the StartmeupHK Festival in 2020, Asia’s largest young entrepreneur event with more than 17,000 delegates attending. A third student built an app which allows female entrepreneurs to find other female workers in countries where it is prohibitive to search for and confirm female talent. The app linked to an intelligent matching algorithm based on characteristics and traits, and has helped more than 500 females find full-time and part-time jobs. Yet another current student is planning to construct and implement a prototype redesign of the subdivided flats home to Hong Kong’s poorest residents. The possibilities are infinite and specifically tailored by your student from his/her interests.
How to Apply
Enrollment for all programs begins with the form below!
- A Taste of the UN SDGs
- WFUNA - Mission Possible (with certificate)
- ITS x MXA - Young SDG Leaders (with certificate)
- The Young Changemaker Incubator (YCI)
For any general enquiries, please email [email protected] .