The Make A Difference Challenge demonstrates Go-Givers in action! It provides children in Primary Schools with the opportunity and means to devise, present and implement an action plan with the purpose of supporting a cause of their choice. The plan should be developed through direct involvement with people associated with the cause.

Project Aims To:

• Increase self confidence
• Deepen feelings of empathy
• Expand children's understanding of communities, and the contribution they can make to them
• Develop Citizenship Skills
• Develop team working skills
• Broaden and deepen the curriculum through cross-curricular work
• Give children the space to reflect on their particular talents, values and goals.

The Challenge is an active citizenship project which supports the aims of Every Child Matters, Community Cohesion and Pupil Voice.

The cause is chosen democratically by the children themselves.

They may decide on a cause specifically related to their local community, a global issue or anything in between.

The children may focus on fundraising, campaigning or both. It is important that they gain a real understanding of the issues, and can empathise (stand in the shoes) of those who are disadvantaged.

The Process

Make a Difference Challenge involves the following stages:

• Teacher training: A whole day training session delivering a complete package to support teachers through the process. Delegates are introduced to the methods of scaffolding, interactive web tools, and downloadable material for children which is freely available on the Go-Givers website. They are given a Handbook containing further guidance and information to take away.
• Back at school, after being taken through the decision making process, the children choose the cause they wish to support.
• The children research their topics.
• Each school group is given a sum of money (amount determined by budgetary constraints) which the children can choose to spend as start up money for a 'social enterprise', and/or for defraying the costs of visiting specialists to help them develop their campaigning skills.
• The children lead an awareness raising campaign and/or social enterprise in their schools and communities, and make links with charitable and voluntary organisations.
• The children attend a celebration event at which they present their work to an invited audience using a variety of media.

Three London schools take part in the Challenge

Please go to Case Studies in the Kids' Zone to see what other schools have done.