Social Shifters is a global platform dedicated to empowering young change-makers who are tackling some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. Focused on creating a more inclusive, sustainable future, the organization nurtures youth-led projects by offering knowledge, connections, and opportunities to thrive. Social Shifters helps aspiring entrepreneurs and young leaders access tools to transform innovative ideas into impactful actions. They work closely with global partners and brands to amplify the reach and effectiveness of social ventures, connecting young talent with mentorship, funding, and visibility. Their initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), striving to reduce inequalities and promote justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth. With an emphasis on youth leadership and innovation, Social Shifters bridges the gap between bold ideas and real-world change. Through initiatives like the Global Innovation Challenge, the organization supports young leaders with the resources they need to scale their impact globally, ensuring that their concepts do not remain just on paper but evolve into fully operational ventures that address critical global issues.

The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2025 is a global call for young impact-driven leaders aged 18 to 30 who are spearheading social or environmental ventures. This initiative aims to equip young founders with not only financial support but also mentorship, exposure, and access to valuable learning resources. Designed to elevate the efforts of youth-led startups or projects, the challenge supports ideas that tackle challenges aligned with the SDGs—including poverty, climate change, education, and equality. Entrants can receive funding ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 USD, helping them with project development, equipment, communication efforts, team-building, and other related expenses. What sets this grant apart is its comprehensive support system that goes beyond funding. Participants gain peer support, mentorship from industry leaders, and extended access to learning and networking tools. The grant serves as a launchpad for projects with measurable impact and scalable potential. Submissions will be assessed on leadership, innovation, impact, and youth involvement. Successful applicants will join a global cohort of changemakers, receiving continuous encouragement and opportunities to expand their initiatives even after the grant period concludes.

The Contrapuntal is an independent non-profit publication committed to delivering rigorously researched, accessible, and factually accurate journalism from a ground-up perspective. Inspired by Edward Said’s concept of contrapuntal reading, the publication examines the intertwined histories of colonizers and colonized, offering a nuanced approach to complex global issues. With a focus on political economy, migration, ecology, and culture, The Contrapuntal prioritizes people-centric stories, emphasizing voices often silenced and unpacking the structures that perpetuate such silencing. The platform rejects “objective truth” storytelling and false balance, instead aiming to critique oversimplified narratives, particularly those affecting the Global South. By uniting researchers, journalists, activists, artists, and critical thinkers, The Contrapuntal strives to provide diverse perspectives on contemporary global issues.

The Bridging Narratives Grant is an intersectional initiative funded by the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. It aims to foster collaborative projects between independent journalists and social scientists, blending academic research and journalism to produce critical, people-centered narratives. The selected projects will address key global themes such as migration, political economy, ecology, and culture, highlighting their local implications through in-depth reporting. The goal is to create high-quality, participatory content that is disseminated through The Contrapuntal’s digital magazine. In addition to financial support, successful applicants will attend a workshop focused on journalism-research collaborations, culminating in an edited volume reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of merging the two fields.