WHAT IS DESIGN FOR CHANGE
Design for Change (DFC) is a global movement that cultivates the ‘I CAN’ mindset in every child. This ‘I CAN’ spirit empowers children and gives them an opportunity to express their own ideas for a better world and put them into action. Design for Change was born out of the conviction that children are not helpless, that change IS possible and they believe that they can drive it.
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A Message from the Founder
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What is design for change
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Impact of FIDS According to Harvard
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What is your superpower?
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Dr. Howard Gardner on Design for Change
THE FIDS FRAMEWORK
HOW ARE WE CULTIVATING THE I CAN MINDSET ?
Through a simple design process of Feel-Imagine-Do-Share
FEEL
This step starts with asking you to slow down and 'understand' the situation before jumping to 'solve' it.
Why is it Important?
It develops EMPATHY.
When you want to design a better solution, you need to move from 'assumptions' to 'insights' - this happens when you engage with the user and design solutions 'WITH', instead of 'FOR' them.
IMAGINE
This step asks you to brainstorm solutions to improve, enrich, change the user experience.
Why is it important?
It develops ETHICS.
When you choose to offer a solution to change the current situation, it asks you to take the 'responsibility' for the same. This mindset helps you believe that you are NOT helpless, change IS possible and YOU can drive it!
DO
This step is about creative agency and the ability to take timely action.
Why is it Important?
It develops EXCELLENCE.
'Action' that follows 'intention' results in desired 'impact'. Furthermore, the focus on details allows the action to improve the 'quality' of the experience, building a habit for excellence.
SHARE
The final step is 'Share' - cultivating the abundance mentality.
Why is it Important?
It develops ELEVATION
Elevation is the shift from 'competing' with others to 'completing' others. Inherent in this step is the belief that the 'I CAN' spirit offers hope and inspiration for further change.
Go ahead, be a storyteller and shamelessly inspire others to 'Be the Change'!
Watch project stories from 2021 (Top 5 School Teams)
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The Greenlist
The Greenlist addresses the issue of waste management by developing a system that can sustainably manage waste through raising awareness, nurturing environmental education, and changing individual outlook and behaviour
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STEM Vibes
With the lower secondary students losing interest in STEM subjects, the team decided to come up with a one-stop learning platform for lower secondary STEM subjects that could increase students’ motivation and mitigate physical and psychological constraints associated with the situation of quarantine. With this, users can easily access these learning materials only with one application that uses interactive games, notes and videos to help them in learning.
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Soil Detector Sensor & DIY Organic Fertilizer
The team from SK Raja Bahar noticed that the flowers in the school compounds were dying and wilting due to a lack of care, which caused the school compound to lose its beauty. The team came up with an innovative solution to combat this issue by creating a soil detector sensory device, making their own organic fertilizer using eggshells and organizing campaigns to share with the world about the harm of littering.
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Boxes to Beds
In this project, the team aims to address the needs for beds in quarantine centres. They imagine a world where hospitals and quarantine centres do not have to scramble for resources to accommodate the people in quarantine. They aim to do so by using cardboard boxes from wastes such as packaging from food and retail items.
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The Kindness Project: Exclusively Inclusive
The team from SK Desa Cempaka chose to tackle the issue of the disconnect between mainstream pupils and pupils with special education. Concerned about this gap and the damaging consequences it can have on students upbringing, the team decided to conduct various activities that will help students to understand the struggles that special needs students face in their daily lives.
IN THE NEWS
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PERSADA-SUARA DESA BERGEMA DI ITALI| TV1
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Taman Mini Tingkat Kesedaran Pelajar tentang Kepentingan Herba| Astro Awani
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Lead the Change | New Straits Times
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Young students with innovative solutions to represent Malaysia at global education summit in Rome| New Strait Times
DESIGN FOR CHANGE WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS
Are you looking for innovative ways to inculcate creative thinking, empathy, problem-solving and leadership skills in your students?
Join our digital workshop to learn the FIDS model.
National I CAN Schools Challenge 2022
I CAN School Challenge is a global platform for students to share their stories of change using the simplified design thinking model of Feel-Imagine-Do-Share (FIDS) introduced by Design for Change. Top teams will have an opportunity to present their projects at the Be The Change celebration, hosted by Malaysia!
Submissions for I CAN School Challenge 2022 will be open from 25th May 2022 and the deadline for submissions will be on 31st July 2022.
Stories of Change
Browse Stories of Change from around the world
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THERAPY DOG PILOT PROGRAM
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LEARNING FROM THE ELDERS
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SAVE THE WATER
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THE PLASTIC PEOPLE PROJECT
TESTIMONIALS
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"Design for Change (DFC) is one of the most exciting and important educational programs that I know of, with the potential for impact in numerous countries around the globe....Our first wave of studies documents clear improvements in student empathy as well as challenges in enhancing problem solving abilities....DFC provides a valuable model for a wide range of educational innovations"
Dr. Howard Gardner Harvard Graduate School of Education
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"Design for Change helps teachers empower student leadership. Students, as well as teachers, grow as leaders by using the 'FIDS' framework. Their research has proven that cultivating in students these and other twenty-first century skills and social competencies (such as teamwork) has an impact on students’ academic results, develops fundamental character traits, and creates better employment skills for our students."
Wendy Kopp CEO & Co-Founder of Teach For All
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Design For Change's FIDS model has opened up my minds and my students' world. They shared their ideas and opinions freely and within a super useful framework. The project in which they have driven never cease to amaze me. I hope the team and all that is involved in DFC will continue to celebrate and embody the enabling mindset so all students can achieve excellence regardless of where they are. Thank you for this oppòrtunity so that our students get to share about their project on anti bullying to the world.
https://www.facebook.com/SirSoonMy/
Soonufat Supramaniam Teacher, SMK Lubok Buntar, Kedah; Teaching Artist, Leadspire Academy; Teaching Alumni, Teach for Malaysia
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I will use fids techniques in the classroom as well as train students to find the cause of the problem and solve it. They should always think positively and dare to act
Puan Norzita Teacher, REAL School
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I really think the FIDS methodology adopted in the I Can School Challenge is a great way to learn. Not only are the steps of Feel, Imagine, Do and Share applicable to the classroom, they’re also helpful in solving real world problems. I’m both proud and touched that these young students were ready to take on an issue (that may seem daunting to others!) of bridging the gap between mainstream pupils and those with special needs and abilities. From this, our team was able to move forward by encouraging each other and prioritizing activities that could be carried out.
MYZATUL SARAH BINTI YUSOF MENTOR TEACHER - SK TAMAN DESA, NEGERI SEMBILAN
TAKE IT TO YOUR CLASSROOM
You can empower student leaders in your classroom by using the 4-step FIDS process in
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1 Week - TOOLKIT
The all inclusive and flexible challenge is the quickest way to unleash the 'I CAN' superpower in children. Download the toolkit and the one week support plan below and get started!
DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT & LESSONPLAN -
DFC - 1 MONTH: THE CURRICULUM
The month long curriculum enables students to work with one another, to collaborate and to engage deeply, identify the real issues and concerns. The curriculum comes with a month long support plan, download and get started.
DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT & LESSONPLAN
Publications
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WORKING FOR A LIVING
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WINGS OF CHANGE
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FRIEND IN NEED
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THE OPEN WELL
Contact Us
For more information on Design For Change Malaysia, contact our Impact Coordinator, Pradheep Kay at pradheep.kay@impacthub.net or at +60176467377
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Pradheep Kay
Pradheep Kay
Impact Coordinator
pradheep.kay@impacthub.net
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Ralph Mpofu
Ralph Mpofu
Programmes and Partnerships Manager
ralph.mpofu@impacthub.net
