MAD Courses’ innovative and interactive program, the ChangeMaker LaunchPad (CMLP), stands as a testament to the power of collaboration. We want to celebrate the people who made this program come to life. We had experts in Media, Business, Education who worked with our community partners, a range of individuals whose diverse backgrounds and expertise converge to form a powerhouse of inspiration. As we honour the architects of the ChangeMaker LaunchPad, we delve into the unique stories of these changemakers.

Business Experts:

Leading the charge are social entrepreneurs and industry experts. Sophie, our Head of Partnerships, studied international business in France, before she travelled the world to join social enterprises in Latin America and Asia. Aline, our Head of Impact, channels her corporate social responsibility (CSR) background from the banking sector into meaningful impact programming. Andrea, a former marketing professional, embarked on a profound life change, becoming a tour guide and closely collaborating with our community partners and now heads our interactive video storytelling.

Media Experts:

The visionary behind MAD, our CEO and founder Tom, was once a journalist, and inspires us all with his incredible storytelling skills. Roslynn and Roxy, our video team, are digital storytelling maestros, adept at weaving narratives that resonate with audiences globally. And finally Vimeo London brings interactivity to our videos, making the experience so much more immersive.

Education Experts:

Suji, our co-founder, leverages her extensive experience as an international educator and service coordinator. Compass Education contributes invaluable systems thinking tools, while Global Co Lab facilitates global connections through SDG hubs and the Teens Dream Challenge. Continuous feedback from partner schools, educators, and students shapes the evolution of the program.

Community Partners:

We draw inspiration from the Zambales Yangil community, whose stories provide real-life exposure to our students, and an opportunity to practice the tools they learn about before working on their own projects.

MAD Travel, led by our remarkable CEO Raf, frequently visits communities to ensure on-the-ground presence and follow up on community development initiatives.

The importance of collaboration in education cannot be overstated - we are living SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.  In uniting industry, media, education, and community experts, the CMLP creates a shared value that transcends individual contributions. It fosters a sense of unity and purpose, ensuring that stakeholders rally around a singular cause—the empowerment of future changemakers.

The journey towards a better world is not a solitary one; it is a collective endeavor. The Changemaker LaunchPad stands as a testament to the belief that when diverse talents and perspectives come together, they can catalyse transformative change.

We feel very lucky to regularly have interns working with us at MAD (Make A Difference) Courses ; we know that they learn a lot while working with us, but we also learn a TON from them! Colleen Miller was wonderful to have on board, and we are pleased to share with you her reflections on her time with us.

If you or somebody you know is interested in doing an internship with a cool social enterprise that empowers students and communities through interactive online learning, reach out to Sophie Peccaud at sophie@madcourses.com! Let’s hear from Colleen:

Hello! My name is Colleen, and I am a university student who has been volunteering with MAD Courses for the past couple of months. At university, I study International Relations, and I am very interested in helping people around the world! Being a volunteer at a social enterprise has been a wonderful journey that combines passion with purpose. At MAD, I have seen a dynamic environment where innovation meets impact which has allowed me to not only learn about other communities around the world but also makes me feel like I am contributing to society, by learning tools useful to help our world in the future. Without MAD’s deep-rooted partnerships, masterful storytelling, and engaging curriculum development, MAD courses would not be able to leave such an impressive impact on its audience and me!

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Deep-rooted partnerships

When I first started volunteering at MAD, I instantly noticed the strong connection they had with their community partners. One example of this is their connection with the community of Zambales. Seeing how MAD has not only been able to collaborate with the community but also share their stories to audiences globally is very inspiring. From not only a volunteer but from a student's perspective, working at a company that treasures deep-rooted partnerships is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to see how collaborative growth with other communities is important. The chance to be part of a workplace where partnerships are not just valued but essential to the company values opens doors to new learning experiences.

Engaging curriculum development

They have designed a comprehensive curriculum around each adventure, making learning a thrilling journey for schools, universities (especially business schools worldwide), and corporate employees. MAD’s different courses effectively engage audiences.  Looking back on other ways I have learned about sustainability or the UN SDGs, having them be taught with an engaging curriculum would have made it even more exciting and made me want to learn more. As a student, the opportunity to volunteer at a company that places emphasis on creating a captivating curriculum gives me hope that more students will be open to learning & change the world.

Masterful storytelling

Seeing their cutting-edge technology, such as interactive videos, to captivate and immerse the audience with their storytellers and community partners. As a student, storytelling videos are a captivating gateway to learning. They take me on a visual and narrative journey that brings lessons to life in ways textbooks often can't. Seeing these communities in videos and not just reading about them, meeting members of the community and even being able to ask them questions is such a new, interesting, and especially valuable way to learn. MAD’s videos weave complex ideas into relatable stories, making it easier for me to grasp challenging concepts.

My experience volunteering at MAD Courses has been such a valuable experience. Being immersed in an environment that values collaboration and shared goals, I've witnessed the power of meaningful relationships with community partners. It's within this inspiring social enterprise MAD Courses that my journey as a university student has gone beyond conventional boundaries, giving me more enjoyment for learning that goes beyond the classroom, paving the way for a future where education becomes a boundless adventure filled with discovery and impact!