Geneva hub wins the "Shaping a Better Future" challenge

We are proud to announce that our hub flagship project, Reading for Change, is among the 5 projects that won the Shaping a Better Future challenge by The Coca Cola Company. The Geneva Hub will receive US $ 10,000 in acceleration funding for this project. We started Reading for Change in Geneva with the aim to improve integration and give more people access to information and education. We do this by collecting second-hand tech devices such as eBook readers, laptops, MP3-players etc., and uploading them with educational content. We then distribute these pre-loaded devices to selected associations, so that they can use them for specific free skills trainings and language courses.This way, we ensure that a virtuous recycling of technologies is matched with actual needs. Some of our partners include companies (such as Procter & Gamble) who have donated old/unused devices, and community-based associations (such as Espace Solidaire Paquis) who receive these devices in support of their social activities.Some of the key project milestones include:

• Delivered 35 devices that enabled Espace Solidaire Paquis to conduct free multimedia language courses and IT skills trainings

• Established a trusted relation with P&G on the suppliers-end

• Created and shared a blueprint to help other fellow hubs establish their own local chapter of R4C

• Connected with hubs in Canada, France and Morocco for future expansion

After the initial local success, we are now working to scale up the project globally and are partnering with other hubs in the Global Shapers Community. So far, we have produced a comprehensive, easy to read blueprint to help other hubs reapply this project in their communities. We are certain that this combination of rapid local execution and seamless global re-application can help improve the lives of thousands of communities around the world.This award is a testament to the hard work of our team and will allow us to maximize impact in our community and beyond.  With this Coca-Cola grant, we now plan to scale up Reading for Change by:

• getting higher quality content;

• exploring options to promote e-waste reduction;

• offering strong support to other Hubs for the project implementation.

We thank all the Global Shapers for votes and great support over the last few months. We also congratulate the Kathmandu Hub on winning the 2015 Grand Prize Winner of the Shaping a Better Future challenge for their Nepal Earthquake Relief Project, as well as the other finalists: Cartagena Hub, Columbia, with the Water for Life project, Chandigarh Hub, India, with the I Break My Silence project, Gaza Hub, Palestine, with the Solar Power Lighting Disabled Lives.To learn more about Reading For Change and donate any digital devices visithttp://www.readingforchange.ch/ Follow the Geneva Shapers on Facebook and Twitter Author: Beatrice Montesi, Giulia Zanzi

The Reading for Change Blueprint

rfc-logo_2

Reading for Change (www.readingforchange.ch) is a project by the Geneva hub to help improve integration, foster employability and give access to education to vulnerable groups of our local community.

More specifically, we do this by collecting second-hand technologies such as ebook readers, laptops, MP3-players, mobiles phones and more, uploading them with educational content, and eventually distribute these pre-loaded devices to our partner organizations so that they can use them for specific trainings and courses. This way, we make sure that the devices are put to use in the most effective way. As the devices are donated to us and the educational content is taken from free creative commons licensed sources, our incremental cost for each new device is virtually zero. This means that we can scale up our impact very quickly!

That's why, after the initial success in our local community, we are now scaling Reading for Change globally by partnering with other hubs of the Global Shapers Community.  Since our hub has already set up all the IT infrastructure and processes, we want to provide an easy, concise and yet comprehensive blueprint for reapplying the project in all our fellow hubs. We are certain that this combination of rapid local execution and seamless global reproduction can help improve the lives of millions of people around the world. If you'd like to request a copy of the Reading for Change Blueprint or any futher information about this project, please contact us at info@readingforchange.ch  We hope your hub will find this tool useful to start a great project to help your local community!

Reading for Change

The Geneva Shapers are proud to launch their latest project, Reading for Change, which aims to expand access to education for those who need it the most. The idea is simple, but effective: provide the most marginalized communities with digital devices filled with useful educational content. To this end, the Geneva Hub is collecting used digital devices – such as laptops, cell phones, mp3 players – that are considered obsolete and giving them a new, more meaningful life.

On Sunday, 15 March 2015, the Geneva Shapers launched the first phase of the project and delivered IT equipment and other digital devices to EspaceSolidairePaquis (ESP), a leading community-based organization that offers shelter and meaningful skills training for migrants, homeless people and other vulnerable individuals. Through the contribution of Procter & Gamble Geneva and several private donations, the Shapers were able to provide ESP with over 20 devices, including laptops, cell phones, mp3 players and e-readers. All of them were filled with French language courses, both for beginners and more advanced speakers.

Thanks to these devices, ESP will increase its language and IT course offering and provide more services to the over 15,000 beneficiaries.

But this is not just a one-off event. The Geneva Hub hopes to scale up Reading for Change and reach more people in need with better access to education. We are planning to bring Reading for Change in developing countries and to establish new partnerships.

Here is where we need your help: please visit our website (http://www.readingforchange.ch/) and find out how you can contribute.With your support, we CAN make this happen!

Reading for Change video: https://vimeo.com/122183076

Photo credits: Martina Zapf