The ChangeXchange Launch Event

April 2009: We launch ChangeXchange, hosted by ShoreBank Pacific.

An evening of hope, excitement, and new beginnings as Springboard unveils ChangeXchange. We were joined by the Launchers themselves, friends, and family, as well as colleagues and partners.

Visitors from the All China Youth Federation Practice Innovation

May 2009: MercyCorps hosts a Chinese delegation to share ideas about social innovation - Springboard facilitates learning.

The evening challenge was a variation on the development of "innovation kits" whereby one group is trying to assist another with some kind of solution. The challenge is that one size will not fit all, so a kit is developed with a partial solution. The group who needs the assistance is to develop the "final solution."

We provided a learning challenge as a framework to practice participant-driven programming and innovation kit design. It sent like this:

Imagine a strange new fruit tree growing all over China. It is very nutritious, and of benefit to the citizens. However, the fruit grows at the very top of hte tree, which is too high for conventional tools. The government would like to help, but the terrain is too varied to develop one kind of tool. They develop a partial solution, and then provide parts with which to finish the "tool."

The solutions were varied, and a great deal of messy fun was enjoyed by all.