We’re feeling inspired by these three impressive Kiwis

The recent Festival for the Future conference in Auckland brought hundreds of New Zealand’s most inspired young entrepreneurs and social enterprise change-makers into one space. We met a handful of the people involved.

Sasha Fisher  (pictured above) is co-founder and executive director of Spark Microgrants, which provides microfinance to communities in developing countries who might not otherwise have access to funding.

With a strong focus on East African opportunities for start-ups and social change, Spark fund projects such as schools, electricity generation or farming with grants from $2,000-$10,000.

Rather than the usual aid model of external organisations prescribing solutions, Spark helps communities implement their own solutions to the issues they feel are most urgent – anything from building health centers or bridges to starting social enterprises. See more at www.sparkmicrogrants.org.

Charlizza Harris founded 2FACEdrama out of her mum’s garage in Wellington in 2012 as a way to create positive social change for youth dealing with violence and alcohol. Using her background in youth development strategy and performing arts, Charlizza wants to support personal development and good decision-making for young people.

Ben Dowdle launched the Unmask Palm Oil campaign while still at the Pakuranga High School council, and today heads the organisation lobbying for mandatory labelling of palm oil in consumer goods. His job involves lobbying government, and working with zoos, charities and businesses.

See more at www.festivalforthefuture.org.nz.