The Changemakers in Action
Poised on the edge of adulthood, young people are asking big questions. Who am I? What do I stand for?
Ages 17–18
These are the changemakers. At this age, youth are ready to act, design, build, and advocate. They are preparing to leave home—and shape the world.
This is the final chapter before adulthood—and it matters deeply. Teens aged 17–18 are asking the most important questions of their lives: What’s my role? Where do I belong? How can I make an impact? They are ready to act, and they need trust, tools, and community.
What Parents Often See at This Stage:
- • “They’re fiercely independent but still need emotional anchoring.”
• “They want to fix the world, and sometimes burn out.”
• “I just want them to feel ready for what’s next.”
They’ve been learning all their lives. Now they’re ready to lead. This is the moment where theory becomes transformation.
Emotionally: They experience adult emotions but are still learning balance.
Socially: Identity is shaped by social causes, relationships, and chosen communities.
Cognitively: Metacognition and long-term planning emerge.
Physically: Most are mature; confidence may or may not match growth.
Existentially: They are grappling with purpose and what it means to live authentically.
Older teens need ownership. They want to shape the journey, not just join it.
We empower these Changemakers to act. They run campaigns, design prototypes, lead initiatives. They are supported, not managed. Challenged, not micromanaged. Trusted, not tested.
We don’t tell them what to do. We ask, 'What will you do next—and how can we support it?'
Our camps for 17–18-year-olds are:
• Changemaker-driven: Teens choose their missions
• Entrepreneurial: They design, pitch, and execute real-world ideas
• Reflective: We hold space for inner growth
• Legacy-focused: They consider the impact of their choices
• Collaborative: Work happens across teams, ages, and disciplines
Projects are real. Goals are self-set. Mistakes are expected. This is the future in motion.
- “She came home with a business idea, a mission, and a new sense of self-worth.”
– Leah, mom of a 17-year-old
“He started mentoring younger students at school. Something clicked.”
– Ashwin, dad of an 18-year-old
They don’t need someone to fix it. They need someone to believe in them.
• Youth-led innovation builds long-term leadership skills (Zeldin et al., 2015)
• Civic engagement predicts adult well-being and resilience (Ballard, 2014)
• Purpose in youth is linked to fulfillment and health (Damon, 2008)
🔥 Now is their time to lead. Let’s give them the tools—and the trust.
Able invites these Changemakers to step into their power—with creativity, humility, and vision. We don’t just prepare them for the world. We ask them to change it.
Activate Their Power
