In our REWIRE incubator we use neuroscience, entrepreneurship and creativity to help civil society rewire democracy in Europe and sell it better.
We build bridges, communities & open up institutions, leveraging the collective wisdom of citizens.
OUR HYPOTHESIS
As the world around them gets darker, activists are losing their ability to think differently.
By bringing together 15 social change makers from Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria, we teach them how to be more effective leaders by exposing them to inspirational ideas and use neuroscience exercises to train their brain to become more hopeful. We believe this will enable them to take more risks and come up with creative solutions to the issues affecting their organizations and society.
THE PROCESS
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The first phase of the REWIRE incubator focuses on fostering a hope-based mindset shift among participants, with in-person training followed by a weekly online programme.
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The second phase of REWIRE focuses on turning hope into action, where Ukrainian CSOs work with their Polish, Hungarian, and Bulgarian counterparts to develop practical ‘prototypes’.
Few programmes in the non-profit sectors combine a broad range of fields to drive innovation and change. We are trying to introduce a start-up mentality in civil society through entrepreneurship, neuroscience, democracy and creativity underpinned by the power of hope in dark and uncertain times.
Hope-based projects developed in the incubator
Impossible Conversations (BG)
A workbook using creativity & psychology to prepare for difficult conversations in a divided world.
Cross-Cover (HU)
A cultural collective of young creatives who crowdsource a magazine and organise events that tackle social issues. @kereszthuzatkult
Hope Box (HU)
Crowdsourcing a vision for local communities using AI generated images. @hope.box.2025
Participants said
Listen what participants said about their experience after the Phase One in-person workshop in Budapest.
This program was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.