What Does “Large-Scale Change” Look Like? We Partnered With Freethink to Find Out

At the Skoll Foundation, our north star is to drive large-scale change by supporting the work of social entrepreneurs and other innovators. “Large-scale change” is a very high bar for impact—a guiding aspiration that informs all of our work here. But what does that type of sweeping, systems-level change actually look like out in the real world? Can we take that abstract concept and translate it visually in a way that clarifies and galvanizes? Can we make this idea of large-scale change come alive in a compelling, vivid narrative? These are some of the questions we set out to answer in a collaboration with the visual storytellers at Freethink.

An ongoing video series came from that collaboration, and the first piece takes a look at the work of Pratham in India. We’ll add more pieces over the next weeks and months.

A Deep Dive with Pratham

One in 10 people in the world today can’t read. Pratham‘s innovative approach is helping kids in developing countries learn to read in as little as 50 days. Pratham’s methodology centers around teaching children based on their level rather than their age or grade. It began in India, where most kids are in school—but many aren’t able to read at grade level. The success of the core approach – teaching kids at their level and not neglecting those who have fallen behind—has lead to increased reading in Indian states from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu.

Now it’s in use in 14 other countries. Could it end up teaching hundreds of millions of kids to read? And with millions more citizens able to read, could it help developing countries prosper? In this video, Freethink interviews Madhav Chavan, co-founder and president of Pratham, who explains how the Pratham program works and why it’s necessary. We also visit classrooms in India using the program. Team leader Ranjeeta Kushwaha talks about how kids respond, and Dr. Sarvendra Vikram Singh, the Director of Basic Education in Uttar Pradesh, describes how the government finds it effective. We also meet with Ashleigh Morrell, an associate director at J-PAL Africa who’s helping adapt the methodology in countries like Zambia.

Looking for more? Getting Beyond Better demonstrates how and why meaningful change actually happens in the world and provides concrete lessons and a practical model for businesses, policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals who seek to transform our world for good.