When the development sector labeled Kristine Pearson's idea of providing distance education via radio to girls, women, and children living-on-their-own a “nonstarter,” she persevered. She founded Lifeline Energy, and since 2003 it has distributed more than 215,000 Lifeline radios, reaching at least 10 million listeners, the majority whom are female.

Dora Andrade has created a program (EDISCA) that combines dance training with other learning opportunities and support services for girls in economically and culturally deprived communities on the outskirts of Fortaleza, Brazil. The program is making important contributions to the girls' social development and is equipping them with the confidence that will enable them to enter adulthood with a positive outlook and develop productive lives.

Krista Cameron dances to the beat of a local drum. This 20 year-old once thought making a difference meant traveling far away to reach people in need. It took one chance encounter with a member of the Changemakers community for her to see that she could take action right in her own town.

A student at Capilano University in North Vancouver, Krista always knew that she wanted to help people. That is what attracted her to Capilano University’s Global Stewardship Program, a two-year Associate of Arts degree dedicated to creating young social entrepreneurs.

Reba Elliott founded Lifting Voices to harness the power of words to improve communities, changing lives by offering writing workshops on the power of the written word to young people.

Lifting Voices serves people living in high-crime, high-poverty neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. It makes words work on both the grassroots level and the policy level.