My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions
1
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Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Initiative Title
Maccabi Green Youth Leadership League
Lead Organization Name
Jewish Community Council
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2023
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://jcc-uk.com/
Initiative Stage
Idea (You have a solid concept and are hoping to get started in the future)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Traditional youth sports often exist in a sustainability vacuum, prioritizing physical skill while overlooking the environmental impact of travel, waste, and energy intensive facilities. This creates a missed opportunity to engage athletes as community influencers. The Maccabi Green Youth Leadership League addresses this by bridging the gap between athletic passion and the Jewish value of repairing the world. We aim to solve the lack of environmental leadership among the 3,000 people engaged in the JCC movement, specifically targeting athletes aged 10-20 who will benefit most by gaining the tools to become climate advocates. As the central hub of this community, the JCC is uniquely positioned to solve this; we are not just observers, but the providers of the infrastructure where these habits are formed. By gamifying sustainability awarding points for waste reduction, and eco-service we transform the culture of sports from the inside out. Solving this matters because it empowers a captive audience of young leaders to protect the environments they play in, turning a high-foot-traffic community center into a scalable model for climate resilient participation and long-term behavioral change.
Challenge Focus: What topic does your initiative most directly relate to?
Climate action through awareness and engagement
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
Traditional youth sports focus heavily on individual achievement and physical skill, often overlooking the massive potential of athletes as community influencers. Currently, our youth participate in sports in a sustainability vacuum generating significant carbon footprints through individual travel, single use plastics, and high energy facility use, without understanding their role in the climate crisis. For the 3,000 people engaged in the JCC movement, sports are a central pillar of life, yet there is a disconnect between the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and the way we play. The primary beneficiaries are athletes aged 10–20. By gamifying climate action, we move them from climate anxiety to agency. Secondary beneficiaries include their families and the broader community, as these Green Changemakers bring sustainable habits into their homes. As a core pillar , we are at the heart of this community. We see the daily passion of our youth on the courts and in the pool. We aren't just observers; we are the infrastructure. By pivoting our existing leagues, we tackle the problem from the inside out, utilizing our trusted role to transform athletic culture into a force for environmental resilience. Solving this matters because if we don't equip the next generation to protect the environments they play in, the future of community sports is at risk.
Your approach: How are you addressing the problem outlined above? How are you using the power of sport and physical activity to build awareness, shift behavior, and enable sustainable participation for all in response to the climate crisis? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
By integrating a Green Scorecard into the existing JCC league infrastructure, we transform every basketball game, swim, and soccer match into a dual competition, one for athletic excellence and one for planetary health. This gamified framework incentivizes immediate behavior shifts by awarding league points for eliminating single-use plastics, and participating in team-led Eco-Service projects like community garden restoration. Beyond just raising awareness, we are building a replicable model of climate-resilient participation where youth aren’t just playing for today; they are actively preserving the environments they love for tomorrow. The aha moment occurred during a post-game cleanup after a major youth tournament. Watching bins overflow with plastic bottles while our mission statement about Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) hung on the gym wall, the irony was striking: we were teaching teamwork to repair the world, yet our sports culture was actively harming it. We realized that the same competitive spirit and team-first mentality that drives a fast break could be harnessed to drive a climate revolution. If a teenager can be motivated to sprint for a loose ball, they can be motivated to lead champion solar-heated pool. By leveraging the Maccabi brand a global symbol of Jewish strength and leadership we give youth a powerful identity as Green Maccabeans. We aren't asking families to join a new, separate movement; we are embedding sustainability into the heartbeat of their existing routine. This approach shifts the status quo from passive participation to active stewardship, ensuring that the next generation of athletes views climate action not as, but as an essential part of the game.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Our planned initiative will empower young people as lead implementers by moving them from passive participants to active architects of the Maccabi Green ecosystem. Instead of top-down mandates, we will place the power directly in the hands of the athletes to ensure climate action. Every team will elect an Eco-Captain to lead environmental huddles alongside traditional athletic captains, giving youth a formal platform to manage their team’s Green Scorecard and drive strategy. Older participants will serve as Green Ambassadors, mentoring younger Mini-Maccabi divisions on Kavod (respect) for the earth through interactive, sport-based drills that link physical movement to environmental stewardship. By placing athletes in these leadership roles, they will actively shape the initiative's direction; for instance, we intend for youth to propose how a Youth Innovation Fund can finance their own climate projects, like installing solar-powered scoreboards or community water refilling stations. They will also design and lead our monthly Eco-Service Days, such as restoring local habitats or organizing large-scale sports equipment recycling drives for under-resourced schools. This community-centric model will ensure that our youth are not just following rules, but are the experts influencing their families and local businesses to adopt sustainable behaviors. By placing young people at the heart of our design, we will transform the JCC from a standard facility into a grassroots laboratory for climate advocacy. Their future participation will be the engine of the solution, as they leverage their social influence as athletes to normalize climate action as a core athletic value. This collaboration will ensure a sense of ownership that extends far beyond the final whistle.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in raising climate awareness, shifting behaviors, or reducing environmental impact or harm? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had¡, and/or what impact do you envision having in the future?
We envision the Maccabi Green Youth Leadership League creating deep-rooted change by transforming the JCC from a passive sports provider into a powerful engine for climate advocacy. By gamifying sustainability for athletes aged 10–20, we intend to achieve immediate, measurable outputs: a 25% reduction in team-related travel emissions through a new Carpool Caravan system and the elimination of approximately 10,000 single-use plastic bottles per season through league-wide Hydration Hubs. Over time, we imagine these Green Maccabeans will move beyond individual habits to become community influencers, leading monthly Eco-Service Days that we expect will restore local habitats and engage over 500 family members in climate-positive activities annually. The long-term impact we envision is a profound shift in community identity, where climate stewardship becomes as synonymous with the JCC as the sport itself. We will provide evidence of this impact through a transparent Green Scorecard that tracks both quantitative metrics—such as carbon saved—and qualitative milestones, like the number of youth rising to Eco-Captain roles. By documenting this pilot with our 1.5 million-strong JCC network, we see a credible path to scaling this model across hundreds of locations. Ultimately, we envision a future where thousands of young athletes no longer view the climate crisis with anxiety, but with the agency of a leader who knows how to play, lead, and protect the environment they call home.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Our innovation lies in the cultural pivot of a legacy institution. While many environmental programs exist as extracurricular green clubs or top down corporate mandates, Maccabi Green embeds climate action directly into the high stakes, high emotion world of competitive youth sports. We are not creating a new program from scratch; we are upcycling the existing, massive infrastructure of JCC sports leagues which already command the time and loyalty of millions to solve a problem that is usually treated as a separate civic duty. What makes our approach original is the Gamification of Stewardship. By integrating a Green Scorecard into league standings, we transform climate action from a chore into a competitive advantage. When a three pointer on the court and a carpool to the gym carry equal weight in a team’s pursuit of a championship, the community’s hierarchy of values shifts. We are using the Power of the Jersey to make sustainability socially desirable among a demographic (ages 10-20) that is often more influenced by peer competition than by scientific lectures. Furthermore, we are tackling the root of the problem: the disconnect between values and lifestyle. JCCs are built on Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), yet their sports facilities are often high waste environments. Our solution is innovative because it bridges this gap by creating the Green Maccabean identity. We are shifting the norm from passive consumer of sports to active protector of the playground. By applying the existing model of athletic excellence to environmental resilience within a faith based community context, we create a scalable, high speed vehicle for behavioral change that other sports-centric organizations can easily replicate.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Our trustee will be the primary visionary, the Director will oversee the integration of the Green Scorecard into existing league operations. Responsibilities include managing the budget, approving environmental curriculum, and serving as the liaison between the athletic department and the JCC Board of Directors to ensure long term institutional alignment. They will be responsible as well for the day to day data management of the initiative. They will track the Green Points earned by teams, coordinate with local recycling and conservation partners for Eco Service Days, and provide coaches with the tools needed to facilitate environmental huddles. We intend to partner with local environmental NGOs to provide specialized training for our youth. These partners will contribute by hosting workshops and providing technical expertise for our large scale service projects, ensuring our impact is scientifically sound and community focused. We will hire a coaches to be the primary implementers on the ground. Beyond teaching sports skills, they will be responsible for modeling sustainable behaviors and allotting time during practices for youth-led environmental discussions. They will work closely with the Sustainability Coordinator to verify team points for actions like carpooling and waste reduction. Our young-adult volunteers will be the engine of this project. Each team will elect an Eco-Captain responsible for mobilizing their teammates, auditing their team's Green Scorecard, and representing their team's voice in planning future Eco Service activities. This shared responsibility ensures that the initiative remains peer driven and responsive to the interests of the 10–20 years old participants.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your organization up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
To ensure the viability and scalability of Maccabi Green, we have designed a model that integrates environmental stewardship directly into the existing, self sustaining financial structure of JCC sports leagues. By making sustainability a core component of the league’s product rather than a temporary add on, we ensure that as long as the leagues exist, the initiative remains active. Operationally, we will sustain the impact by embedding the Green Scorecard into our standard digital registration and scoring platforms, reducing administrative overhead and making it easy for volunteer coaches to maintain. To grow, we plan to leverage our unique position within the JCC movement, which connects millions of participants. Our roadmap for scaling includes a Franchise Toolkit a standardized package of digital tracking tools, training modules, and sponsorship templates that will allow other JCCs to replicate the Green League model with minimal lead time. We are also pursuing strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors interested in local ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) impact, transforming our league data into a measurable story of carbon reduction that can attract long term funding. Success for us looks like moving from a local pilot to a national standard, where every youth athlete in our network is equipped to be a climate changemaker.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/ to grow.
To ensure the Maccabi Green Youth Leadership League successfully moves from a conceptual framework to a community reality, we have established four key phases of development. These milestones prioritize youth agency and institutional alignment to guarantee a sustainable launch. Phase 1: Foundational Design & Institutional Buy-In (Months 1-3) - Milestone: Project Kickoff & Stakeholder Alignment. We will finalize the internal project team, including the appointment of the Sustainability Coordinator. We will hold briefing sessions with JCC executive leadership and department heads to ensure the Green League model is integrated into the official 2026-2027 athletic calendar. - Milestone: Resource & Policy Audit. We will conduct a baseline audit of current sports facility waste and travel habits to establish benchmarks. During this time, we will also update league policies to include the new Green Scorecard regulations. Phase 2: Youth Leadership & Program Co-Creation (Months 4-5) - Milestone: Eco-Captain Recruitment & Training. We will launch the application process for athletes (ages 10-20) to serve as Eco-Captains and Green Ambassadors. Selected leaders will attend a weekend intensive workshop on climate advocacy and project management. - Milestone: Green Scorecard Finalization. Working with our newly minted youth leaders, we will finalize the specific actions and point values for the scorecard, ensuring the criteria (e.g., carpool tracking, goggle swaps) are peer-vetted and achievable. Phase 3: Pilot Launch & Gamification (Months 6-9) - Milestone: The Green Opening Tournament. We will launch the first season with a high-visibility kickoff event where teams receive their Green Kits (reusable gear and scorecard trackers). - Milestone: Mid-Season Eco-Service Days. We will execute the first series of youth-led community service projects, such as local park restorations or sports equipment recycling drives, marking the first major accumulation of community impact points. Phase 4: Evaluation & Scaling Strategy (Months 10-12) - Milestone: Impact Assessment & Reward Ceremony. We will produce a season-end impact report measuring carbon reduction and youth leadership growth. The season will conclude with a community celebration where the top Green Maccabeans are recognized. - Milestone: Replication Toolkit Development. Based on pilot data, we will draft the Franchise Toolkit to begin the process of scaling the model to other JCC locations in 2027.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details (LINK).
1. Staff Time & Participation Support (£6,000) Backfill Support: To allow the Project Lead and Sustainability Coordinator to dedicate 10+ hours per week to the Ashoka workshops, mentorship sessions, and peer reviews, we will use these funds to cover part-time staff hours for existing league operations. Youth Participant Stipends: In line with the grant's focus on youth involvement, we will provide small stipends for our lead Eco-Captains to participate in specific "co-creation" sprints during the 8-week program, ensuring the solution remains youth-led. 2. Solution Refinement & Prototyping (£2,500) Digital "Green Scorecard" Prototype: We will use a portion of the grant to develop a minimum-viable-product (MVP) version of our digital scoring platform. This will allow us to apply the technical feedback we receive during the capacity-building program in real-time. Resource Development: Funding will cover the design and production of "Green Kits" (sample reusable gear and educational materials) used to test our "Aha!" moment strategies with focus groups of athletes. 3. Operational Capacity & Logistics (£1,500) Connectivity & Collaboration Tools: Ensuring high-quality participation in the virtual program by upgrading our digital infrastructure and purchasing collaborative software licenses (e.g., project management or carbon-tracking tools) to implement scaling frameworks. Environmental Benchmarking: Conducting initial baseline audits of the JCC’s current environmental footprint to provide concrete data for the "Potential for Impact" section during the refinement phase. Total Requested Support: £10,000
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