Founded in 1998

Who we are!

We are an ever-evolving group of middle and high school age youth undertaking humanitarian and environmental efforts to make a positive difference in our local communities and across the globe. We have a wide variety of interests, talents, and personalities, and go to different schools, but we share a dream.

Our story!

• Five years after our 1998 formation, we became a non-profit 501c3 corporation in 2003. 

• Phebe and Nika Meyers co-founded Change the World Kids in response to a humanitarian disaster caused by an earthquake overseas. Never thinking that documenting this moment would be important, a group of eight-year olds decided to take action. Traveling to the site was impractical, so they gathered a few friends and began doing what they could to raise awareness. One thing led to another and their efforts led to helping individuals in the Woodstock community, hoping they would inspire a ripple effect for others to take action to make the world a more peaceful and healthy place for everyone. They did things that eight-year olds could do. At first it was one job a month, then two, and eventually up to six a week.

• The first Change the World Kids’ job was gardening and washing windows for an elderly couple, both incapacitated by illness.

• We were in the Area Brief section of local newspaper and other local media, and contacted local school, guidance counselors, doctors, senior center, and churches and asked them to inform us if they see someone with a need for help. But we found most of our jobs by word of mouth. These are still the ways we get most of our jobs.

• 2003 marked the begin of our first global initiative. Along with a group of Costa Rican biologists and conservationists, we established “Bosque para Siempre,” the Forever Forest, a migratory corridor critical to the survival of indigenous birds and neo-tropical species from northern countries.

• The three-wattled bellbird represents the unique nature of this biologically diverse area, where without immediate preservation efforts, many species are threatened with extinction. With the help of youth from countries all over the world, we hope to establish this refuge for migrating and resident species in perpetuity through conservation easements and outright land purchases and though reforestation of destroyed acres. This means protecting a corridor of at least 300 hectares, and to do so will cost over $2 million dollars.

• Years later we now have over 220 CTWK alums, continue to respond to community needs, create new projects/initiatives directed by our current members, support one another and have as much fun as we can!