At Peace First, we recognize that for too long, the changemaking narrative has celebrated solo leaders the iconic figures whose passion and determination drive change. But the truth is, no changemaker works alone. Every transformative action is supported by the unseen hands of a community those who share their wisdom, resources, and encouragement to sustain the effort.
We, too, have been complicit in promoting this individualistic view. But today, we’re committed to changing that story. We believe that real, lasting impact is born not from isolated efforts, but from ecosystems of support. Changemaking thrives when individuals come together sharing ideas, amplifying each other’s voices, and fostering resilience through collective action.
That’s why we are proud to launch our Changemaking Communities initiative a bold step to create environments where changemakers of all ages and backgrounds can thrive together. These communities are not just spaces; they are engines of collaboration, designed to cultivate shared values, foster intergenerational mentorship, and inspire collective responsibility for creating a better world.
Changemaking starts with creating environments where individuals thrive together. The Ghana School Project was our inaugural effort to transform a local school into a beacon of collective impact. This initiative represented the heart of our vision investing not only in individual leaders but also in the ecosystems that nurture them.
Nestled in the vibrant coastal community of Teshie-Nungua, Ghana, Downsview International School has been a cornerstone of hope and opportunity for over three decades. Founded by Mr. and Mrs. Akoto—affectionately known as Grandpa and Grandma—the school embodies the spirit of community care, fostering a nurturing, family-like environment where children can grow and dream, even in the face of adversity.
- Repainted and revitalized classrooms, creating a more inspiring learning environment.
- Provided full year scholarships to students in need, breaking down financial barriers to education.
- Hosted a Day of Service, engaging students, teachers, and volunteers in mentorship and community building activities.
- Expanded the project’s impact, incorporating health screenings, cultural arts programs, and community engagement efforts.
The Ghana School Project set the foundation for building Changemaking Communities, ensuring that education, resilience, and collaboration remain at the heart of local transformation.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners at Motive8Global for helping us document and share the story of our first Changemaking Community. To everyone who contributed, whether through funding, volunteering, organizing, or sharing this journey we are profoundly grateful. This project is proof that when we come together with a shared vision, meaningful and lasting change is possible.
- Refine and elevate their brand identity, co-developing messaging tools and outreach strategies to better tell their story and expand their reach.
- Collaboratively develop curriculum tools rooted in a local context, while drawing on Peace First’s experience to support youth leadership.
- Explore and document best practices in meaningful grantmaking, engaging BHP to help shape our understanding around equitable funding.
Changemaking flourishes when rooted in trust, shared purpose, and community wisdom. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Solidaridad Internacional Kanda A.C. (SiKanda) into our Changemaking Communities initiative, an evolving effort to support grassroots organizations leading youth-driven change in their local contexts.
Based in Zaachila, Oaxaca, SiKanda brings deep experience in social inclusion and sustainable development. We will supporting the Visible Youth, a project supporting adolescents and young adults, particularly young women, through workshops, mentoring, and youth-led community action focused on leadership, gender equity, and peacebuilding.
Through our partnership on the Visible Youth project, we’re working together to:
- Support a cohort of 20 adolescents and young adults.
- Elevate local approaches to gender equity, peacebuilding.
- Center the lived experiences of Oaxaca’s youth.
This partnership is about more than program delivery. It is about co-creating approaches that honor lived experience, center local leadership, and uplift stories that too often go untold. SiKanda brings powerful insight to our global network, helping shape how we think about youth engagement and community-led change.
Lasting change takes shape when young people are met with opportunity, support, and systems that recognize their potential. Through Peace First’s Changemaking Communities, THRiVE Hub deepened its efforts to expand access to workforce education, mentorship, and early career opportunities for young people navigating financial and structural barriers. Although the grant did not fund individual programs on its own, it strengthened implementation, lowered participation barriers, and allowed THRiVE Hub to engage more young people than in the previous year, supporting steady participation, stronger outcomes, and pathways toward long-term economic stability.
Program Highlights
LaunchPad Fellowship Program: Engaged 25 young people in a hybrid professional development pathway focused on aligning education with real-world workforce expectations. Participants developed in-demand skills, took part in virtual and in-person learning, and secured paid internships in areas such as software development, product design, and content creation. Peace First support helped provide internet stipends, improving continuity and reducing disengagement.
THRiVE Hub Scholarship Program: Supported 11 university students facing significant financial strain with funding for essential academic and living expenses, including textbooks, fees, exams, food, and housing. Beyond financial relief, scholars became part of a supportive network offering mentorship, priority access to the LaunchPad Fellowship, and connections to paid internship opportunities.
THRiVE Hub Cafés: Hosted in-person, intergenerational mentorship gatherings across two cities, opening access to guidance and professional insight for young people outside selective programs and strengthening community connections through shared learning.
