About 35Champions
Creating ripples of humanity in the lives of young people
This is a movement of humanity champions, especially for young people.
Champions was started by Glen Ford following his 22 years of service and leadership working alongside Rwandans — giving up his management career, then in his mid 30s — to support their journey of reconciliation, recovery and rebuilding.
It was through this journey that it became clear that humanity is a performance multiplier. The so-called soft skills have hard and tangible benefits. They are the foundation for thriving.
This is a membership site with a difference.
Not only will you receive access to the curriculum — through this site and invitations to Champions experiences — but you will enable young people to also access the Champions program.
Pricing on the site is designed so that everyone can participate — you contribute based on what you feel able.
We use a pay-it-forward model — encouraging current program participants to become mentors and benefactors in the future, the 35Champions alumni.
Each membership is a seed, creating a powerful and lasting ripple effect — ripples in the lives of young people, transforming their lives and beyond.
What this site does
We tell Stories of Humanity — inspiring a new generation of Champions.
We have a simple but powerful belief: the world thrives when people act for the good of others.
These stories show that the world changes when people change how they treat each other.
A Champion is someone who chooses to act for the good of others.
Through their choices, connections and actions, Champions create new futures.
They create ripples of humanity that grow and spread, activating others and creating virtuous cycles of trust, courage and contribution.
You will see examples throughout this site — not soft, fuzzy choices — but hard, tough, life-changing, and life-transforming choices.
Like Grace, Robert and Dydine. You'll also see stories of recent Champion participants, like Fred and Hiba. You can also read about Glen's journey, the origin story of Champions (more on that below also).
This is why we exist: to activate, strengthen and support Champions.
Thank you for visiting. The world needs Champions — Humanity Champions — the world needs you!
Join as a member, read and share Stories of Humanity, and help fund the next generation of young Champions.
Why Join?
35Champions is a community for people who believe humanity matters — and who want to be part of a movement that changes lives.
Your membership funds young people to access the Champions program.
This enables them to develop the self-awareness, empathy, resilience, trust and practical leadership capabilities they need to become Humanity Champions in their own communities.
It costs approximately $1,000 to enable one young person to go through the Champions program.
$100/month membership can fund approximately one new Champion each year.
Over time, this creates a multiplying effect.
Through the pay-it-forward model, some participants become ambassadors: role models, mentors and benefactors — helping to fuel the next generation of Champions.
Your membership does more than support a program. It creates a ripple effect — ripples of humanity.
Why Stories of Humanity?
At the heart of Champions is the power of story.
Stories change how we see ourselves. They change how we see others.
They help us understand what courage, kindness, forgiveness, responsibility and service look like in real life.
Champions are stories of humanity.
We lift up these stories — past and present — to activate future stories and future Champions.
To become a Champion is to learn how to write your own story — and how to live it.
It is to choose the person you want to become, the contribution you want to make, and the path you are willing to walk.
Across this site you will find stories that move, challenge and inspire.
Our hope is that they do more than touch you — that they strengthen your humanity, activate you to write your own story, and help you become a Champion.
Join as a member, read and share Stories of Humanity, and help fund the next generation of young Champions.
Why 35?
The name 35Champions comes from a simple principle: small, active and committed people change the future.
You do not need to reach everyone.
Research into social change has suggested that committed minorities as small as 3.5% can help shift wider systems and societies.
In practical terms, this means that in a group of 1,000 people, 35 Champions can influence the wider group.
They strengthen trust, shaping behaviour, modelling courage and creating benefits far beyond themselves.
They are the catalysts. The yeast. The salt. The change agents.
The number 35 is not magic: it is a principle of leverage.
By activating a small percentage of people deeply, rather than spreading effort thinly across everyone, we can create a movement with the power to grow.
As the well-known quote attributed to Margaret Mead puts it:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
35Champions exists to create, sustain and grow this community of Champions.
Our Partners — who make 35Champions possible!
Humanity is not a spectator sport and is a team sport!
We're privileged to be working with some of the world's leading organizations who are grounded in values of humanity.
World Youth Clubs
Based in Orlando, Florida, World Youth Clubs is a global non-profit network supporting over 5,000 youth clubs around the world, with over 1.5 million young people across 60 countries, helping local organisations give young people safe spaces, trusted adults, and opportunities to grow.
It was founded by Rick and Susan Goings, building on their long association with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and their shared commitment to children’s safety, development and opportunity.
Y20
Y20 is the official youth engagement forum of the G20, bringing young leaders from member countries together to debate global challenges and develop policy recommendations for G20 leaders.
This year’s Y20 USA 2026 Summit is due to take place in Washington, DC, from August 10–14, 2026, giving the cohort a timely platform to shape youth-led thinking on global policy, leadership and cooperation.
UK National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs
Part of the World Youth Clubs network, the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) has a deep heritage in UK youth work, with some local clubs tracing their roots back to the Victorian era, and the national association formed over 100 years ago in 1925.
Built from strong county and community foundations, NABGC now supports a network of around 3,000 clubs and projects, reaching 300,000 young people through 15,000 volunteers — providing safe, affordable spaces where young people can build confidence, character, skills and belonging.
Colligiate Institute for Middle East Affairs
The Collegiate Institute for Middle East Affairs (CIMEA) is a student-focused platform founded by Brandon Leach to deepen understanding of the Middle East and Africa across U.S. campuses.
It brings students from different backgrounds into serious, respectful dialogue, combining events, chapters and policy discussion with a commitment to free exchange of ideas, diverse perspectives and meaningful participation in international affairs.
Institute for Economics and Peace
The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) is a globally respected, independent think tank founded in 2007 by Australian technology entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Killelea AM.
Best known for creating the Global Peace Index, IEP uses data-driven research to measure peace, understand its drivers, and quantify its economic value.
Based in Sydney, Australia, its work helps governments, businesses and civil society see peace not as an abstract ideal, but as a practical foundation for human flourishing and prosperity.
AlleeOop
AlleeOop is a youth-development platform based in the US helping young people build clearer pathways to their future through vision coaching, future mapping, community support and practical guidance.
Its founder, Alphonce “Al” O’Bannon, brings deep experience from the LBA Foundation — Leaders Believers Achievers — helping young people “lead, believe and achieve” by connecting them to mentors, future-mapping, community support and life-after-graduation pathways.
They have a belief that every young person has leadership potential when given the right helping hand.
Al's own Champions journey strengthens this alignment. His life embodies the move from service to activation — helping young people lead, believe and achieve in their own way.
AdvanceNet Labs
Based in Boston, MA, AdvanceNet Labs is a social-sector 'technology for good' organisation founded by husband-and-wife team Keith and Amanda Thode, whose journey bridges corporate innovation and practical service.
Both bring deep roots in technology and delivery, including significant experience with Accenture: Keith through consulting and executive roles, and Amanda through 14 years in Accenture Technology Labs.
Their work now channels that expertise into scalable tools for employability, learning, empowerment and social impact
Creating Your Champion Story of Humanity
We'd love for you to become part of Champions — to share your story and create more ripples of humanity.
Thank you!
Our Origin Story
Champions was started by Glen Ford, following his 22 years of volunteer leadership in post-genocide Rwanda, first helping to build the Kigali Genocide Memorial in 2004, then staying involved to support the reconciliation process.
Glen gave up his management career in 2004 - then in his mid 30s, with a family to support - to work alongside the team at the Memorial and the people of Rwanda through their journey of reconciliation, rebuilding and recovery.
It was through this experience that he saw the power of simple humanity to transform lives, to create ripple effects — that the world thrives when people act for the good of others.
He learned that humanity is not a soft extra; it is a performance multiplier.
When trust, empathy, resilience, accountability and moral courage are present, people, teams and systems are able to thrive.
But, when humanity is absent, relationships weaken, cultures deteriorate and systems fail.
Join as a member, read and share Stories of Humanity, and help fund the next generation of young Champions.
Membership donations (tax receipts)
Tax receipts are available in some circumstances. Please contact us for details.
Sources
- See various articles by Dr Erica Chenoweth, such as this one from Harvard. Dr Erica Chenoweth’s research on civil resistance highlights how small, committed minorities can influence wider systems — supporting the principle behind 35Champions: focused groups can create disproportionate change. There are also other examples and research that support this wider principle.
More Information
This site is operated by Champions.
See the Champions website for more information.