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Inspiring

Young people through transformational encounters with others

Equipping

Young leaders to realise their potential locally & globally

Empowering

Young people to Be the Change in the world

Igniting

Young minds to spark local and global change

We believe in the potential of young people to Be the Change in the world

Saphara inspires and equips young people to create flourishing communities of justice and compassion, locally and globally, empowering them to Be the Change in the world.

Our vision is a generation of young leaders participating in compassionate, peaceful and inclusive communities where everyone is valued and celebrated.

Our Programmes

SAPHARA

Be the Change Schools

Each year we partner with secondary schools across NI to deliver Be the Change Award to 150 sixth form students.

SAPHARA

Be the Change India

We partner with schools and NGOs in India to support their vital work providing education for all.

SAPHARA

Be the Change Girls

There are 15 million girls worldwide who are never expected to enrol in school. We want to change that.

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Be the Change Colleges

Teaching students from Stranmillis and St Mary’s Colleges to deliver affirming education to marginalised children in NI and in India.

ABOUT US

Saphara Be the Change.

We are a team of experienced, passionate educators who believe in the power of experiential learning, having brought life-affirming education to thousands of children and young people in Northern Ireland and India.

We believe that each child is of unique worth and has the right to be valued, respected, loved and given the opportunity to flourish. We are committed to enabling every young person to develop their God-given potential.

We are dedicated to providing transformational learning opportunities for young people and educators which encompass intellectual, emotional and spiritual development through creating safe spaces for self-reflection during their Saphara encounters.

Being the Change in an uncertain world

Journey has always been at the heart of Saphara.

Journeys from Northern Ireland to India have transformed the lives of thousands of NI and Indian young people over the past decade, through encounters.

Since the pandemic, our focus is on young people who journey to Northern Ireland, refugee and asylum-seeker children living in disadvantaged areas here.

In the midst of uncertain times, Be the Change Schools programme has taken root and begun to flourish, with 150 sixth-form NI students delivering affirming educational fun days to 150 primary school newcomer children in June 2022.

The pandemic has had a huge impact on our partner schools and NGOs in India, and our commitment to them is unchanged. As grassroots organisations, they have been able to create innovative programmes that effectively target the needs of their communities, ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable children and families.

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, Saphara has given over £150,000 of support to our Indian partners from 2020-2022, providing food and basic supplies, funding online classes and 17 tuition centres, and protecting adolescent girls from trafficking and abuse.

Now that schools have finally reopened, we are funding Back to School places for 300 children from the most impoverished families.

Be The Change Approach

Saphara Be the Change Award is founded on Transformative Learning Theory, encompassing 3 key elements:

HEAD

Awareness together – Delving deep into what divides & unites us, locally and globally. Poverty, justice, racism, religion, sectarianism, diversity & inclusion.

HEART

Advocacy together globally – connecting with & learning from marginalised children in India through connecting digitally & supporting by fundraising.

HANDS

Action together locally – connecting with & learning from newcomer children in NI through action.

HEAD

Awareness together - Delving deep into what divides & unites us, locally and globally. Povery, justice, racism, religion, sectarianism, diversity & inclusion.

HEART

Advocacy together globally - connecting with & learning from marginalised children in India through connecting digitally & supporting by fundraising.

HANDS

Action together locally - connecting with & learning from newcomer children in NI through action.

Support us

Saphara believes that every child is of immense value and worth and that education is key to enabling disadvantaged youth to overcome poverty. The charity focuses on educational projects which build capacity, and strategic interventions which empower young people. Saphara works in partnership with local schools and NGOs that can demonstrate buy-in and ownership from local communities. These are uniquely placed to effect long-term and sustainable change.