$8.5 million auction catapults Time for Change internationally!

Time for Change expands internationally, with support from $8.5 million auction hosted by Audemars Piguet

In 2021, thanks to a first auction which had already raised funds, First Book, Ashoka, and Audemars Piguet, the prestigious Swiss Haute Horlogerie Manufacturer, launched an incredible five-year partnership program. The program,?Time for Change: Dream, Act, Change Our World, is designed to inspire students from socially excluded and historically marginalized communities to become changemakers. Through this initiative, an estimated 25,000 educators are already reaching 750,000 children ages 5-18 with powerful strategies to create positive change in communities across the U.S.?

As part of the initiative, we distributed more than 50,000 books related to changemaking, and provided educators with free actionable and practical materials to raise awareness of the power of changemaking and to help young people feel empowered to “Dream, Act, Change Our World.” This initiative is not only supporting young people as changemakers, it’s also developing young people’s talents and abilities for academic success, career satisfaction, and lifelong civic engagement.

Now, following an exhilarating, invitation-only auction held in Dubai and hosted by Audemars Piguet,?First Book, Ashoka, and Audemars Piguet are bringing this global movement forward by inspiring youth as changemakers in five new countries: Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom.?The auction raised an astounding USD $8.5 million, which will enable First Book and Ashoka, the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs, to expand this successful initiative internationally in the coming years. This second phase of the Time for Change initiative will see an implementing partner, Teach for All, which is a global community of change makers developing collective leadership to ensure all children can fulfill their potential. Together with First Book and Ashoka, the international expansion of the initiative will thrive.

The auction featured a one-of-a-kind watch, the?Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider Man” timepiece, the second watch Audemars Piguet created through a collaboration with Marvel. The exquisitely engineered timepiece, which glows green in the dark, features an engraved and painted Spider-Man that appears suspended in air through the sapphire crystal. Only 250 of the limited-edition watches were created, making it the coveted star of the auction.?

The auction caught media attention worldwide, including?this article by GQ.?

Today, this collaboration takes on even more meaning with this piece inspired by Spider-Man, who embodies the adage: “With great power there must also come great responsibility.”?

To have this legendary force for good?

serve as the force to inspire a new generation?

of international changemakers is extraordinary!

Too often, young people – especially those growing up in marginalized communities – feel powerless to affect the world around them. Their unique perspectives, contributions, and power are often overlooked or even undermined. This partnership is changing that, with educator resources and curriculum co-developed by Ashoka and First Book to help young people see and experience that they have the power to contribute positive change!

Time for Change has already enabled young people in underserved communities across the U.S. to develop and launch their own exciting initiatives. Inspiring examples of such young changemakers can be seen here from?Arizona, California, Indiana, and Massachusetts.?

Our world’s problems are increasingly complex and changing rapidly. Our impact on each other has become even more pronounced and profound. In order to create a more just and equitable world, it’s critically important that young people see themselves as changemakers – and that we celebrate their voice, their actions, and their contributions to make their schools, communities, and the world a better place.?

To Audemars Piguet, to educators, and to young people, thank you! We can’t wait to see the exciting ideas and the ripple effect of this partnership as we expand Time for Change internationally!

With gratitude,?

Kyle

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