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Irene Banda. Photo: John Sones/OxfamAUS

Can one person really change the world?

Absolutely! Time and again, the actions of passionate individuals have changed the course of history.

The struggles and achievements of individuals such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Aung San Suu Kyi are well known but you don’t have to be famous to make a difference in your world.

Here are some inspiring stories about everyday people who decided to change their world. Each adopted a different strategy – from cycling around the country, to organising a concert, to direct political lobbying – in an effort to bring about change in the lives of others.

Irene Banda

A young woman who forged a relationship of trust and respect with the cotton farmers of Zambia.

Read more about Irene

Daniel Adams

Daniel dreamed big about spreading the Make Poverty History message and ended up sharing a stage with Bono!

Read more about Daniel

Faith Bandler

A trailblazer who fought for the rights of Indigenous people and helped change the highest law in the land – the Constitution.

Read more about Faith

Chukwumuanya Igboekwu

A young Nigerian doctor who convinced his government to provide life-saving drugs to people living with HIV and AIDS.

Read more about Chukwumuanya