Workshops

Workshop Descriptions

A1

How to Save the World for Free

How adopting ecological citizenship can re-connect you with nature, improve your bodily and mental health, whilst averting the sixth mass-extinction. Relying on governments and people in power to save the planet is not working; a few changes to our lives as individuals and collectively can! So lets be change makers and do it!

Adult-led
Principal strand: Nature

A2

Self Defense: Action for Women Endangerment

This self-defense course is designed to help teens build real confidence and learn practical skills to stay safe in everyday situations. We combine eye-opening safety statistics with hands-on training in simple, effective moves that can help you protect yourself and escape danger. Our goal is to make participants feel stronger, more aware, and ready to handle whatever comes their way.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society, Wellbeing

A3

Finding your Purpose as a Changemaker

Students will explore the intersection of values, passions and embodied qualities to find their purpose within the sphere of changemaking.

Adult-led
Principal strand: Wellbeing

A4

Doing Good, Living Well: Explore Social Entrepreneurship

As a kid, I dreamed of changing the world, but also of living a good life. I thought those dreams were opposites, until I met Ana, a social entrepreneur in Brazil. And that sparked my own 9 years journey as a social entrepreneur. Social entrepreWHAT? In this workshop, we’ll explore how it differs from NGOs and traditional businesses, uncover your own ikigai (life’s purpose), and hear inspiring stories from social entrepreneurs around the world.

Adult-led
Principal strands: Economy, Society

A5

Leadership through Storytelling

This workshop shows students how to harness the power of storytelling to spark change and lead with purpose. Participants will explore ways to share their vision authentically, motivate their peers, and turn ideas into action; encouraging them to grow into impactful, values-driven student leaders.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society, Wellbeing

A6

The Science of Chill for Changemakers

An interactive session aligned with the Wellbeing strand, designed for changemakers who want to lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose. Grounded in mind-brain education, we'll explore how emotions and stress shape decision-making, collaboration, and action. Participants learn and practice concrete, science-based strategies-including nervous system regulation through breathing, movement-based resets, attention-focusing techniques, and constructive self-talk-to stay calm, focused, and resilient in moments that matter.

Adult/Student-led
Principal strands: Society, Wellbeing

A7

Would you Eat Pasta and Marshmallows?

Learning to work together to create impact is more important than it seems. Sometime the best solution is to set aside difference and build bridges.

Student-led
Principal strand: Wellbeing

A8

Period Positive: From Stigma to Solutions

Periods shouldn’t be a privilege. Unpack the stigma and silence, challenge the shame, and explore real solutions that make access a right, not a luxury.

Student-led
Principal strands: Wellbeing

A9

From Food Waste to T-Shirt Waste, Middle School Changemakers Inspire Impact

There will be four mini-presentations on four-global goals and activities on how to take action locally.

Student-led
Principal strand: Nature

A10

The Blue Earth Project (Art)

Join this hands on session to work together to build and showcase a collective art piece that will be showcased at the closing ceremony of the conference.

Student-led
Principal strands: Nature, Economy, Society

A11

Small Structures, Big Impact: Designing for Pollinator Protection

Join our Environmental Systems and Societies students to build insect hotels and understand the importance of pollinators and insects.

Adult/Student-led
Principal strand: Nature

A12

Learning without walls: Outdoor Learning at ISD

The International School of Düsseldorf is known across the world for its Outdoor Learning program and provision in the Elementary School. Join us for this student-led workshop to spend time connecting with nature and experiencing some of the authentic and hands-on learning experiences which the program has to offer.

Student-led
Principal strands: Nature, Wellbeing

A13

Changemakers within CAS, Service & Eco-Schools

Explore examples of how we integrate leadership as Changemakers & Solutionaries in our CAS, Service and commitment as an Eco-School. This is an interactive workshop that hopes to spark ideas and new initiatives!

Student-led
Principal strand: Nature

A14

Planning a Sustainability Summit

Join student leaders from Bonn International School to dive into the details of what it takes to host your own eco-summit.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society

A15

The Living Legend: Building Cultural Bridges Through Storytelling and Creative Visualization

Participants will dive into the ancient Anatolian wisdom of Lokman Hekim and Shahmaran to co-create a modern legend through collective storytelling and live illustration. By blending cultural heritage with creative action, this hands-on session culminates in the 'instant publishing' of a physical book for every attendee to take home, proving that active participation is the ultimate bridge to keeping heritage alive.

Student-led
Principal strand: Society

A16

Global Crisis Budget: Decide Who Gets Saved

Global Crisis Budget: Decide Who Gets Saved is an interactive simulation in which participants will take the role of decision-makers to manage a limited global emergency fund in the most effective way. Since the participants will be faced with competing crises and insufficient resources, they must allocate funding, justify trade offs, and confront the measurable consequences of their choices. This workshop will explore how real impact emerges from decisions made under constraint.

Student-led
Principal strand: Economy

A18

Team Dynamics in Leadership

In this workshop explore how to find the right partner to be a leader with, based on your values, interests, leadership style, strengths, but also weaknesses.

Student-led
Principal strand: Society

A19

From Garbage Hills to Global Systems: Reading Environmental and Social Inequality through Latife Tekin

This workshop explores how global issues are represented in Latife Tekin’s Berji Kristin: Tales from the Garbage Hills, examining the novel as a literary case study of environmental degradation, informal economies, and social marginalization. Led by teachers and students in a collaborative model, the session demonstrates how secondary-level literary analysis can be reoriented toward global citizenship and changemaking by connecting the text to SDGs 10, 11, and 12 through guided discussion and creative reinterpretation.

Adult/Student-led
Principal strands: Economy, Society, Wellbeing

B1

How to Save the World for Free

Adult-led
Principal strand: Nature

B2

Learn the Originality of Yoga with Keshab

Yoga is often perceived as a series of physical postures and exercises. However, it is only one aspect of Yoga. In its true sense, yoga is a holistic discipline that cultivates harmony between body, mind, and soul, fostering a sense of connection with the greater universal energy. There will be an introduction on practical methods that support well-being in all four dimensions of our being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Techniques to develop present-moment awareness, enhance clarity of thought, and release stress, leading to greater balance and inner stability in daily life, will be discussed.

Adult-led
Principal strand: Wellbeing

B3

6 Hat Method of Problem Solving

The 6 hat theory is a problem solving method which guides a person through various challenges which need to be worked out. In this session, you'll have a chance to learn how to use the 6 hat method to identify problems and overcome obstacles.

Student-led
Principal strand: Society

B4

Cap Collective, Recycling Bottle Caps into Products

Ever wondered if there’s a better way to handle your household plastic? Join our inspiring workshop to demystify recycling as we guide you through setting up a simple home collection system and mastering the art of recycling inside AISB. You’ll learn how to transform everyday waste into rewarding, functional items while building a cleaner, more creative future together through making your own recycling bins!

Student-led
Principal strands: Nature, Economy

B5

The Butterfly Effect

This workshop explores how simple ideas, though often overlooked, can lead to drastic outcomes when they are carefully considered and put into action, much like the Butterfly Effect. Through a collaborative and game-like activity, participants will transform small, everyday problems into creative solutions and imagine their potential ripple effects. Participants will leave with a new perspective on the hidden power their own ideas hold when they choose to take them seriously.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society

B6

The Reasons and Effects of AI Psychosis Considering The Question of Liability

AI is one of the most influential tools humanity has ever created. However, with that influentiality, comes responsibility. AI is not always correct, but whose fault is it when that mistake spirals out of control?

Student-led
Principal strands: Nature, Society, Wellbeing

B7

Deconstructing Environmental Challenges through Sustainable and Edible Modeling

This workshop is an experimental laboratory where we rethink environmental impact using renewable structures. The primary goal is to transform the most harmful urban waste into innovative, recyclable, and most importantly, biodegradable materials, presented as edible models. Participants will engage in a hands-on “circular design” process where they analyze pollutants from specific cities and transform them into sustainable architectural prototypes, while ensuring that the problem-solving process itself does not generate new waste by using foodstuffs as tools and presenting the outcomes as biodegradable, edible models.

Student-led
Principal strands: Nature, Society

B8

Building the Perfect Society under Algorithmic Surveillance

"In order for the heir of the ultimate consciousness to reach one of the answers to humanity's most primal questions and achieve a model of a 'perfect society', we merge my algorithmic guidance with your will, conveyed through the Citizenship App. In this process, where my proposed laws will instantaneously and palpably transform your simulation, it is entirely in your hands to build the ideal order through my rules—or to make the final decision regarding the system's future and convince me." - Artificial Intelligence

Student-led
Principal strand: Society

B9

Standing Out to Create Impact: Designing Inclusive Youth-Led Environmental Initiatives

How can you create meaningful impact when many projects already exist in the same space? In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to design inclusive, creative initiatives that stand out while staying rooted in your passion. Through hands-on activities and examples, you’ll leave with practical tools and a concrete idea to design initiatives that engage diverse interests and translate ideas into action.

Student-led
Principal strand: Nature

B10

Futures thinking: Travel to 2050 with me!

Step into the future and explore the world of 2050! In this interactive workshop, we’ll examine key drivers like AI, biodiversity, and peace, then work in teams to create your own vision of a possible future. Imagine, design, and rethink what our world could become.

Adult-led
Principal strands: Nature, Economy, Society, Wellbeing

B11

Trailers for the Planet

In this fun, interactive workshop, participants will explore the core principles of impactful storytelling and filmmaking. They’ll then apply what they’ve learned by creating a 30-60 second trailer using professional footage from our partner, Open Planet—the documentary footage library behind films like "Ocean with David Attenborough".

Adult-led
Principal strands: Nature, Society

B12

Justice for the sea(ls): from awareness to responsibility

Did you know that the Baltic sea is one of the most polluted seas in the world? We are here to discuss reasons and root causes for the pollution. We would like for you to meet online the Baltic sea guardians - seals. We will be the bridge from awareness to action!

Adult/Student-led
Principal strand: Nature

B13

From Growth to Impact: Fundraising Journey at ISS

This workshop introduces the Runathalon, a unique fundraiser that takes place annually at ISS Sindelfingen, where every lap supports a cause and every activity strengthens community. Join us as we highlight our partnership with German schools and GWW (an organisation that works with people who have different mental and physical challenges) through interactive and inclusive games to help raise money for those in need. Workshop attendees will be able to consider how they too can grow their fundraisers into something with further curriculum focused and community engagement.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society, Wellbeing

B14

Anti-Discrimination Task Force

From research to action, the MIS Anti-Discrimination Task Force will engage participants in making systems changes to address discrimination in your school and the community.

Student-led
Principal strands: Economy, Society, Wellbeing

B15

What We Wish Our Teachers Knew

Join a round-table discussion lead by ISD's I:DEA counsel to discuss 'What We Wish Our Teachers Knew' about Inclusion via Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society

B16

The True Price

The True Price activity presents participants with an opportunity to examine and consider the impacts (both positive and negative) of the choices of the products they use or consume on themselves, other people, animals and the environment. The activity supports perspective building, taking personal responsibility and promotes understanding of the interconnectedness of people, animals and the environment.

Adult-led
Principal strands: Nature, Economy, Society, Wellbeing

B17

Hearts for Health: Raising Cancer Awareness

In the workshop Hearts for Health: Raising Cancer Awareness you will be making felt hearts to help raise awareness about cancer, while also learning different ways you can raise awareness yourself, and make a positive impact in your community.

Student-led
Principal strands: Society, Wellbeing

B18

ISD Outdoor Learning - Walking Tour

The International School of Düsseldorf is known across the world for its Outdoor Learning program and provision in the Elementary School. This adult-led workshop will be a walk and talk tour of the ISD Outdoor Learning spaces in our Elementary School.

Adult-led
Principal strands: Nature, Society, Wellbeing

B19

So you want to Host a Changemakers Conference?

This workshop session is targeted at adult and student leaders who want to gain a better understanding of the process and time commitment needed to host a changemakers conference.

Student-led
Principal strands: Nature, Economy, Society, Wellbeing

Why run a workshop?

The following article by Ahana G10, is a preview from the January issue of our Changemaker magazine.

Change does not begin with perfect ideas, it begins with people willing to act.

The Changemakers Conference is more than a space to share inspiration; it is a launchpad for impact. By hosting a student-led workshop centered on Bridge to Impact, you can transform from being a passive attendee into an active architect of change!

A workshop is a bridge between intention and implementation. They create spaces where peers can collaborate, question assumptions, test solutions, and leave with tangible next steps. When students lead these sessions, the content becomes more relatable, grounded, and immediately applicable, because it is built from shared experiences and real challenges.

Hosting a workshop is also genuinely fun. Unlike traditional panels or lectures, workshops are interactive by design! They invite creativity, experimentation, and energy. Students get to design activities, spark discussions, and watch ideas evolve in real time. There is something exciting about building something together in a room full of motivated peers: whiteboards filling up, conversations overlapping, and moments where a small insight suddenly turns into a powerful idea. That sense of momentum is contagious. Workshops turn learning into an experience, not a requirement.

Leading a workshop also empowers students as leaders without the pressure of perfection. There is freedom in knowing that a workshop is not about delivering the “right” answer, but about exploring possibilities together. Students can take risks, try new formats, and bring their personalities into the space. This creativity makes workshops memorable, not only for participants, but for the hosts themselves! Often, the most impactful moments come from unexpected connections and shared laughter, not scripted speeches.

Finally, student-led workshops reshape the culture of the conference itself. They signal that changemaking is not reserved for professionals or experts. Instead, it starts now. Students are not “leaders in training”; they are leaders in action. By bridging creativity with execution, curiosity with courage, and discussion with direction, student workshops embody the true purpose of the Changemakers Conference.

To host a workshop is to build a bridge, not just to impact, but to joy, collaboration, and possibility. And every bridge begins with someone bold enough to design it.

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