Changing the World
Training a million young people in nonviolence in a nation beset by war and genocide
"I am sometimes called ‘small Gandhi,’ not because I am one, but because of my experiences with Transformative Action! It inspired me to start a peace movement of one million youth in Democratic Republic of Congo. Already we have trained over 3,000 youth in active nonviolence on the way to our goal. More than 50% of the lessons, stories and experiences come from TAI."
Benson Wereje, Founder, CIYOTA
Ashoka Fellow and Echoing Green Fellow
Teaching the next generation of peacemakers to follow in the footsteps of Gandhi
"Transformative Action is the only evidence based social entrepreneurship training programme we have seen that delivers results! Scott was able to quickly understand our needs, draw from his vast library and design a course customized to our needs. The Gandhi Fellows loved his infectious energy, creative activities and never tired from his workshops! Even 4 years later we still use his theory of action and material to create social entrepreneurs who will change the world."
Aditya Natraj, Director, Gandhi Fellows Program
Ashoka Fellow and Echoing Green Fellow
Helping spark a clean energy revolution
“The Transformative Action Institute defined the direction of my undergraduate experience at Princeton. Inspired by everything I learned, after college I went on to work with leading social entrepreneur Paul Polak on clean drinking water and bioenergy social ventures. Afterwards I worked on a win-win strategy for clean energy startup -- the same basic principles of transformative action. Now I’ve started a new social enterprise. I can't stress enough how much of a catalyst that first experience with TAI was for my life and career.
Over the past eight years since I first took the Princeton course with TAI, I have met numerous high-impact change makers in the realms of social and environmental entrepreneurship. Among all these individuals, I would estimate that 80% of them have a connection to and were impacted meaningfully in some way by the Transformative Action Institute. TAI and its teachings are a hidden, deeply powerful force within the existing field of social impact - and I could not be more wholehearted in supporting the scaling of their work nationally and beyond.”
Danny Growald, co-Founder, Aetheos Energy
Co-Chair, BankFWD
Turning Swords into Plowshares
Growing up in an army family, Emily Nuñez wanted to see if she could transform the power of the military into peaceful purposes. She has developed an award-winning social enterprise that is a “quadruple bottom-line” company: helping people, purpose, and planet, while also making profits. Her award-winning social enterprise is reducing waste, hiring veterans, and strengthening understanding between civilians and members of the military.
“The Transformative Action Institute impacted my life in an awesomely positive way. As a result of the lessons I learned through the TAI, I was empowered to make a bold commitment to start Sword & Plough and incorporate social impact in every step of our business model. Scott and his team challenged me to think about innovation, and even luck, in news ways. This exciting process has helped me in my life as a social entrepreneur every single day. Because of the Transformative Action Institute, I am a more resilient, bold and innovative leader and entrepreneur. Imagine the positive social impact that would occur in the world if every student could learn the principles of transformative action!”
Emily Nuñez, Sword & Plough, Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur
The next generation of social entrepreneurs and world leaders
"TAI is leading the way in training the next generation of social entrepreneurs and world leaders. For the past three years, the University of Pennsylvania has worked with TAI to train social entrepreneurs with the tools of transformative leadership. We now have trained over 130 social innovators.
“I've witnessed how the TAI curriculum can be applicable for any early stage social entrepreneur. Regardless of the industry, venture stage, or interests of the entrepreneurs, the TAI curriculum helps people clarify their purpose, set a game plan in motion and build a growth mindset. Participants in our program walked away from the training with a greater willingness to dare greatly and take risks, to think more critically and creatively, to ask for help, and to spot new opportunities and alliances. TAI helps changemakers reach their full potential and create great social impact."
Cosmo Fujiyama, Former Program Director, Center for Social Impact Strategy, University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Cosmo is the Vice President of Training at The Management Center.