Global Shapers Impact Report 2025

Framework for young changemakers: strategies and tactics for action2 The previous chapter highlighted the multifaceted complexities young people face today, capturing both the challenges they encounter and their urgent calls for action. The focus now shifts to how they are actively creating change, locally and globally, despite the formidable scale of the issues before them. This chapter answers the following questions: –What issues do young people prioritize? –What strategies and tactics do they employ? –Which stakeholders benefit from their efforts, and what lasting social impact are they making? This research shows that young people are not waiting for others to solve today’s challenges. Undeterred by the magnitude of the social, economic, political and environmental crises of the era, they are harnessing the power of collective action to drive ambitious projects that enable them to empower themselves, uplift communities, safeguard the vulnerable and address systemic issues. With determination and innovation, they reject short-term fixes in favour of long-term, sustainable solutions. Whether confronting climate change, advocating for justice or expanding access to education, young leaders are redefining what it means to work towards a better future. Young people employ diverse tactics to drive progress, such as awareness raising, direct action, influencing power and driving systems change.16Young leaders are using awareness-raising, direct action and systems change tactics to drive meaningful change. With determination and innovation, young people reject short-term fixes in favour of long-term, sustainable solutions. Global Shapers Impact Report 17