Olympiads for Change (O-Change)

O-Change's starting point is the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which it is using as a framework to bring individuals together in a "world games" of sorts meant to promote cultural diversity and collective creativity through symbolic competitions. O-Change combines an interactive virtual platform with a series of festive, artistic local and global events and actions. Launched during a time when the world comes together to celebrate human potential and the quest(s) that bring us all together - that is, the Olympic Games - O-Change seeks to generate a feeling of global citizenship that is respectful of local diversity.

Specifically, the virtual platform seeks to provide a spring-board for a new political space where the actors of globalisation in all their diversity can come together by, for example, taking part in a 5-question online survey that is designed to invite people to express how they feel about such issues as what is most needed to spark change from "the bottom" up. In addition, a forum invites people to debate themes related to human rights and various global crises. This idea of fostering a shared process of civic engagement will, as the initiative develops, also be reflected in an online game focusing on the Articles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, as well as a space where media professionals, athletes, and artists can contribute the work they are doing to raise awareness.

Using this internet process as a springboard, teams will form to compete in 5 disciplines through which they will illustrate, give life to, and - possibly - adapt the Articles into a document of global citizenship that represents the duties, responsibilities, and rights of each person. Those 5 disciplines could include: a short film or play; a song; a poem or a painting; a simple speech; a kind of physical performance; or an educational project. The resulting new framework will - after a period of listening, consultation, and common construction – be communicated (e.g., through interactions with the United Nations) - in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The idea is to draw on people's creative vision to consolidate their lobbying power to generate change in global governance.

Rights, Democracy and Governance.

Bridge Initiative is a French non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to create and sustain a neutral space for dialogue by using tools that allow those engaged in the debate over globalisation's future to participate in meetings, public debates, and broadcast events designed to inform and engage their fellow citizens.