Problem: The movement was created in India in 2009 by the designer, educator and social entrepreneur Kiran Bir Sethi and has the aim of making children stop being merely individuals that need help, and allows them to develop the ability to express their own ideas and put those ideas into practice, making them leaders in their communities. 

Solutions: The challenge encourages children and adolescents to believe in the phrase “I Can”. The project uses the method “design thinking”, to show the importance of social action. Feel, Imagine, Do and Share are the steps to be achieved.

The children work in groups with around five members. They think about changes they would like to take place around them and elaborate ideas on how to implement them. They are encouraged to register each step of the project so that they can later describe how everything happened. All types of changes are possible, from challenging the superstitions of the older members of rural communities to finding a way to make money to buy computers for a school or resolve the problem of heavy backpacks. 

The challenge has already had the participation of Brazilian students. At the Padre José Pegoraro municipal school in São Paulo, the students photographed what they liked and didn’t like about their school. Then they presented the photos to their colleagues and made a list of what they wanted to change. During the process, they discussed issues such as the use and conservation of the sports court, gates and walls, the choice, preparation and presentation of school meals, the classroom environment and the planting of trees. Following this, they put their ideas into action with the creation of awareness campaigns about diet, improvements to the sports court, decoration of the rooms and the planting of trees.

Outcomes: Participation in the project develops creativity, innovation, empathy, compassion, the ability to be active in the community and to connect with others. It also promotes critical thinking and the empowering of children, adolescents and adults.