Columbia China Center for Social Policy Partners with the Qi Social Innovation Center for Youth Development and Impact
The China Center for Social Policy at Columbia University’s School of Social Work is pleased to announce its new academic partnership with the Qi Social Innovation Center, supporting two of the Qi Center’s flagship youth programs: Fellowship For Change (FFC) and Venture For Change (VFC). Through this partnership, the Center looks forward to advancing opportunities for young people to engage with pressing social challenges, explore innovative solutions, and develop the knowledge and skills to create meaningful social impact through social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Empowering Youth to Turn Ideas into Action
Founded in 2022, the Qi Center is a not-for-profit social enterprise committed to nurturing young social innovators worldwide. We believe that the mindset of Change For Good must be cultivated early in life to inspire and activate a global community of young individuals to engage in initiatives that create societal benefits. The Qi Social Innovation Center has been recognized by the 2024 McNulty Catalyst Fund as one of only seven global awardees, for its outstanding achievements in empowering the younger generation in social innovation.
Fellowship For Change (FFC) is a selective, year-long, full-scholarship program for high school students who are passionate about addressing social and environmental challenges. Through immersive learning summits, academic sessions, and individualized mentorship, Fellows deepen their understanding of complex social issues, learn to identify root causes, and develop and pilot solutions in collaboration with communities. FFC aims to cultivate thoughtful, compassionate leaders who can translate their commitment to social change into sustained action.
Venture For Change (VFC) is a social entrepreneurship program for middle and high school students. Through a hands-on, venture-based learning experience, students identify pressing social needs, explore innovative business models, and develop and pitch social ventures designed to create both social impact and financial sustainability. By working through the process of developing and implementing a venture, students learn to approach social challenges as entrepreneurs; testing ideas, collaborating with stakeholders, and turning promising concepts into practical solutions.
Together, Fellowship For Change and Venture For Change offer complementary pathways for young people to engage in social innovation: FFC supports students in developing their leadership and advancing social impact initiatives, while VFC introduces them to social entrepreneurship as a way to build sustainable solutions to societal challenges.
Bridging Academic Insight and Real-World Impact
As an academic partner, the China Center for Social Policy brings an important academic perspective to Qi Center’s youth programs. The partnership reinforces the role of rigorous inquiry, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of social systems in preparing young people to address complex challenges.
The Qi Social Innovation Center believes that young people do not need to wait until adulthood to contribute to society. With the right knowledge, guidance, and opportunities to act, they can become active participants in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Through this partnership, the Qi Social Innovation Center and the China Center for Social Policy look forward to supporting the next generation of changemakers: young people who lead with empathy and curiosity, think critically, and innovate collaboratively translating their ideas into meaningful social impact.
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