Laika supports Stiftung AusserGewöhnlich Berlin as they build sustainable impact-networks with 17ACADEMY
To make a lasting, sustainable impact, it takes a village
This is why the United Nations continuously urges companies to devote their knowledge and resources to sustainability in order to achieve the 16+1 UN-Sustainable Development Goals (SDG17) by 2030. However, many companies still lack the knowledge and internal network skills to live up to their best potential and actively contribute to this goal. This is why the AusserGewöhnlichBerlin Foundation created the 17ACADEMY, whose purpose it is to equip companies and impact-organizations worldwide with necessary expertise and resources, as well as making sustainable networking the future.
Or, in other words, by networking with like-minded people and communicating your goals within your impact-organization, you're a lot more likely to actually achieve your goals! What we really need, to make a liveable future for the generations to come, is to come together. Connected by an expansive network of impact orientated companies, we can easily share new tactics amongst each other and move forward, faster than before.
One goal, making Berlin the #1 Global Impact Capital
Learning how to network isn't an easily acquired skill, but needs to be honed with practice. That’s why the team behind 17ACADEMY came up with the SDG17 Global Networker course program. The course aims to teach impact organizations how to connect with each other and network in the most efficient way possible. They do this by offering a new type of hybrid teaching which consists of a 4-week course, which features live online workshops, professionally produced podcast seminars, app-based "gamified micro-learning" and lots of hands-on activities. All the courses are certified and attending companies get accredited as SDG17 certified Companies.
They also have the Berlin based Business Club in their corner, which works as a practical role-model and starting point for the initiative. Combined with the 17ACADEMY course, Berlin should grow into the biggest international impact-network by 2030 Berlin with around 10,000 SDG17 certified companies. That would mean that the biggest accredited impact-startups take up residence in Berlin, making it the GLOBAL IMPACT CAPITAL that it has the true potential to be.
Creating a voice for the foundation and raising awareness for the SDG17
While Berlin might not be climate-neutral by 2030, there’s still much to do for Germany's Capital to make a difference for the future of our world. When we met Alexander S. Wolf, founder and chairman of Stiftung AusserGewöhnlich Berlin, at our last joint pro bono project "Testament of Bucha", our common passion for impact communication instantly clicked. This is why we were more than happy to work with them specifically on a long term basis. The brief was clear: establish coherent and unifying messaging for all the foundation’s activities, and finally get the word out there that companies need to work together based on the UN Agenda 2030. A bold challenge, we do not shy away from!
We first tackled the messaging problem: How can we bring the local network, the foundation and the global networker course under one roof? Being in frequent exchange, participating at the Networking Salon and writing the first pitches, step by step, the role of each branch for the overall goal—making Berlin the Global Impact Capital—got clearer. The solution to climate change will come from impact companies, if they learn how to network internally and with each other.
Next, we reached out to the media—sharing the messages of the foundation by offering statements on current news topics such as the referendum or climate activism. Furthermore, we showed their devotion to the cause by simply educating companies on the possibilities presented by their extensive course work.
This task is not without its challenges, since the network is mainly present in the Berlin bubble, there is still a lot of educational and awareness work to do nationally. We are excited about the next steps and to further support Stiftung AusserGewöhnlich Berlin in creating a better world for generations to come, by spreading the news around the Global Impact Capital initiative within the comms cosmos. ✨
Cheers to a better world!