604. 2025 Social Impact Trends That Matter: Fuel Young Generosity (Manuela Testolini)
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Overview
Meet Manuela, the Founder and President of In A Perfect World. 🤝 She’s dedicated her life to empowering and activating the next generation of youth leaders and philanthropists. 🌎
In this episode, Manuela shares how to fuel young generosity by tapping into kids’ natural empathy and kindness, and how to partner with them to create their own "north star" for creating change within your mission. 🙌 After 20 years of work in this space, she shares her playbook for how to co-create programs and tailor your messaging to speak to their unique passions.
Manuela also shares practical tools, like their Everyday Kindness series and Youth Ambassador program, to help young people take action and create change today. đź’«
Tune in for the playbook today. 🎧
đź’ˇLearn:
How to authentically engage youth by listening to their voices and helping them find their own "north star" for creating change.
Strategies for effective messaging and storytelling to connect young people to social issues.
How to better integrate youth voice and agency into your work, such as finding internal champions and allowing kids to drive the solutions.
Today’s Guest
Manuela Testolini, Founder and President of In a Perfect World.
“Be a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage.”
Episode Transcript
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Episode Highlights
Empathy and Generosity: Lessons from Children (2:51)
The Power of Listening to Children (9:00)
Storytelling as a Tool for Engagement (15:02)
Confronting Social Issues in Education (20:39)
Empowering the Next Generation (23:24)
Programs for Change: Everyday Kindness and Dream Catchers (25:41)
Hope for the Future: The Role of Young People (31:44)
“Trust young people-we often dismiss them, but we should meet them where they are. Encourage them to be their authentic selves instead of shaping them into something else.”- Manuela Testolini’s One Good Thing(32:55)
Powerful Quotes
“Kids are naturally wise and empathetic, but we often overlook their potential.”- Manuela Testolini
“Kids in challenging situations tend to think more broadly. That’s why our mission has always been to listen to them and understand whats drives them to take action.’ - Manuela Testolini
“I want to ask kids: What’s on your heart? What do you see in your community?” - Manuela Testolini
“Kids are aware of the world’s challenges and know how to use social media to mobilize and drive change.'“ - Manuela Testolini
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