17Steps is a collaborative workshop NGO series led by Carter Consulting, designed to create real-world solutions for global challenges.

Every six months, we bring together 15 purpose-driven professionals — from strategy, design, education, tech, health, and more — to tackle one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Each cycle begins with a one-day launch event in Berlin, followed by a three-month remote innovation sprint. Participants co-develop bold, practical solutions: from public campaigns and policy proposals to prototypes and pilot-ready projects.

Our first cycle, launching this September, is proudly partnered with Speech Spark, an award-winning education initiative based in rural Togo. Their work empowers young learners through structured pedagogy and social-emotional learning (SEL), providing scalable, evidence-based tools for teachers and students across under-resourced communities in Francophone Africa.

All work is pro bono. All energy is impact-focused. 17Steps is built for those who want to use their skills for something bigger — and be part of a global community creating measurable, lasting change.

No Poverty

· Zero Hunger

· Good Health & Well-being

· Quality Education

· Gender Equality

· Clean Water & Sanitation

· Affordable & Clean Energy

· Decent Work & Economic Growth

· Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

· Reduced Inequality

· Sustainable Cities & Communities

· Responsible Consumption and Production

· Climate Action

· Life Below Water

· Life on Land

· Dream it

· Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

No Poverty · Zero Hunger · Good Health & Well-being · Quality Education · Gender Equality · Clean Water & Sanitation · Affordable & Clean Energy · Decent Work & Economic Growth · Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure · Reduced Inequality · Sustainable Cities & Communities · Responsible Consumption and Production · Climate Action · Life Below Water · Life on Land · Dream it · Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Donate to 17Steps

About Speech Spark

Laying the Foundation for 17Steps

17Steps is a grassroots initiative in its founding phase — and we’re seeking support to build the foundation needed to launch our first cycle. All current donations go toward setting up the organisation: covering registration, legal setup, branding, technology, and core operational tools.

This initial fundraising round will allow us to formalise 17Steps as a non-profit entity and lay the groundwork for future events, which will be funded separately through ethical sponsorships and project-specific fundraising.

Select the Donate button to support the launch and establishment of 17Steps.
Select the See Where Funds Go button for a transparent breakdown of how your contribution will be used.

With your support, we can take the first real step toward building an engine for global impact.

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Learn About Our First Mission Partner

Why give?

7Steps is in its founding phase — and your support helps bring it to life. Every donation goes toward building the organisational structure needed to launch: legal registration, technology tools, branding, and the operational systems that make future workshops possible.

You're not just funding a project — you're helping to build a platform where experts and creatives can collaborate pro bono to solve real-world problems aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Please note: Once 17Steps obtains official NGO status, we aim to issue tax-deductible donation receipts. In some cases, it may be possible to backdate receipts for donations made during the setup phase — however, this is subject to approval by the relevant tax authorities.

Give because you believe in purpose-led innovation. Give because you're investing in long-term, scalable impact.

Past, Present & Future Workshops?

The first-ever 17Steps Collaborative Impact Workshop is launching in September, focused on SDG #4: Quality Education. In partnership with Speech Spark — an education initiative transforming early learning in rural Togo through structured pedagogy and social-emotional learning — this cycle will unite professionals from diverse fields to co-develop solutions that address global learning challenges at both systemic and community levels.

Future cycles will explore themes such as sustainable healthcare, climate resilience, and economic inequality — always grounded in real-world impact and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This is just the beginning. As the platform grows, we aim to host multiple CIW cycles each year — each producing tangible deliverables, published reports, and pilot-ready solutions to some of the world’s most urgent issues.

Giving FAQs

Your donation goes directly toward the setup and launch of 17Steps as a registered non-profit organisation. This includes legal registration, branding, digital infrastructure, and the foundational systems needed to deliver high-impact workshops in the future.
No — workshop costs (like venues, food, and staff) will be funded separately through ethical sponsorships and project-based fundraising. This initial campaign is solely to build the organisation that will run those workshops.
Transparency is core to our mission. You can view a full breakdown of projected costs by clicking the “See Where Funds Go” button. We’re committed to ethical spending and clear reporting at every stage.
We are in the process of registering 17Steps as a non-profit. Once official status is confirmed, we’ll provide updates on tax-deductibility based on your country of residence.
Absolutely. We welcome support in many forms — from volunteering your expertise to helping us connect with like-minded partners or sponsors. Reach out via the contact page to explore how you can get involved.
The first Collaborative Impact Workshop is set for September and will focus on SDG #4: Quality Education. Applications will open soon — and all updates will be shared through our channels.