Shaping the Future of Social Impact: Announcing the 2025 Cohort of Fellowship For Change

The 2025 Fellowship For Change cohort leads the way in social innovation.

June 11, 2025

The Columbia Global Center Beijing and the Qi Social Innovation Center are delighted to welcome the new cohort of 19 inspiring Fellows to the 2025 Fellowship For Change (FFC) program. This program, a collaboration between the Qi Social Innovation Center and Columbia Global Center Beijing, is designed to empower high school students from across China who are committed to driving meaningful change.

The rigorous selection process brought together a diverse group of students from 10 cities and 18 schools, each embodying the drive, compassion, and innovative spirit needed to address crucial social issues.

These Fellows will focus on areas such as gender equality, supporting mothers in returning to the workforce, environmental justice, cultural heritage preservation, educational equality, and tackling the mental health crisis among teenagers.

These 19 Fellows are not only incredible students, but they each have a moving story about how they made a difference to their causes that touched and inspired us.

Jack Hsu, Founder of the Qi Social Innovation Center and Advisory Board member of Columbia Global Center Beijing

Throughout the year-long program, Fellows will participate in three in-person Learning Summits, where they will be immersed in real-world learning experiences. The program encourages participants to gain deep insights into complex social and environmental issues, develop innovative solutions to address root causes, and implement projects that generate lasting, impactful change.

Congratulations to each Fellow! I'm confident that you will gain valuable insights and inspiration from interactive sessions led by Columbia University professors, distinguished alumni, and pioneering social innovators from China and beyond.

Helena Xiao, Deputy Director of the Columbia Global Center Beijing

We look forward to seeing how this talented group of students will harness their passion and creativity to drive positive social change. Together, they are poised to become the impactful leaders of tomorrow.

Curious to learn more about this inspiring cohort? Meet the new Fellows and discover their stories here.