Don't we all sometimes get caught up in talking about big visions and making great plans and in the end only achieve a friction of that plan? Shapeathon is a format that has been specifically designed to deliver tangible impact right on the spot on the one handside.

On the other handside, the Düsseldorf Shapers wanted to use the opportunity to get in touch with local NGOs to find out which challenges they are dealing with and help solving them.

Based on agile project management methods, they created a methodology consisting of different fast-paced stages to develop ideas, receive feedback, adjust and implement in the limited time of a few hours. NGOs and Shapers (or other volunteers) work together in mixed teams, which fosters collective creativity.

The Shapers of the Düsseldorf Hub delivered the Shapeathon format for the first time in Fall 2017 when they hosted a meeting for all hubs from the DACH region. In this first edition 25 Shapers worked with 5 NGOs from different fields. All of the NGOs were asked to bring a current challenge or goal. In the end we were able to make tangible steps forward in solving questions such as: How can we keep volunteers motivated in the long-term? How can we grow our NGO that teaches 21st century skills in a different geographic area? What is the best approach to set up a lab for co-creation of social transformation in our city?

Ever since, the workshop has been and will be replicated by other hubs like Munich, Vienna and Luxembourg City with NGOs from their region.