IMPACT WEEK PHILIPPINES 2026
,Since 2022, the Philippines have been a continuum in the Impact Week calendar. After three workshops in Manila, we ventured to Baguio last year. Read about the program here in this wonderful article by local Senior Coach Alex Abear. Since the collaboration was such a big success, we now come back to Baguio to take the University of the Cordilleras by storm and create a unique, inspiring experience for the students together with our valued partners Benilde HiFi, Taraki and City Government of Baguio. Join us as a Junior Coach, and immerse yourself in the Filipino culture while creating impact.
As a Junior Coach, you’ll receive hands-on training, collaborate with local and international changemakers, and help guide young minds in creating innovative, community-driven solutions.
With its dynamic youth and strong spirit of collaboration, the Philippines offers a vibrant backdrop for building creative confidence and entrepreneurial thinking. At the same time, challenges like inequality, environmental threats, and economic uncertainty make it more important than ever to invest in local talent and ideas. This is your opportunity to grow as a coach, connect across cultures, and help shape a more inclusive and innovative future!
Key facts
Dates
Train-the-Coach: November 4-6
IW Challenge: November 09 – 12
Location
Local Partner
Benilde HiFi
Taraki
University of the Cordilleras
City Government of Baguio
Wanna Join?
Join us to create impact!
What to expect
With our two-module approach, we will train a new cohort of Junior Coaches by guiding them through a 3-day “Train-the-Coach” phase from 04 – 06 of November. After a weekend, on November 09, we will dive deeper into coaching scenarios, intercultural exchange and coaching confidence.
Then, from November 10 – 12, international and local participants will then take their new role as Design Thinking Coaches and work together with students of the University of the Cordilleras to find innovative solutions for local challenges. This defines the “practical phase” and will give the new Coaches the unique opportunity to directly implement what they have just learned while being guided by experienced Senior Coaches along the journey.
The innovative and customer-focused orientation of the Design Thinking methodology helps all participants to challenge their way of tackling a problem. The unique spirit of the Impact Week experience will definitely inspire you to look at entrepreneurship and social innovation in a completely different light.
What are the benefits of joining an Impact Week?
- Upon completion of the program, you will be a trained Junior Design Thinking Coach, having already applied the methodology.
- You’ll gain key skills through Design Thinking, such as innovation, customer focus, and implementation orientation.
- The intercultural experience at Impact Week will also help you gain different perspectives on problem solving as well as build your international network, which will be key to boosting your resourcefulness at work as well as creating avenues for future collaborations.
- In addition, Impact Week promotes local entrepreneurship and social innovation. We enable our local partners to apply Design Thinking themselves and run their own Impact Weeks.
What are the focus areas for challenges?
Each participating team will work on one focus area. The students can choose their focus area in the application process and get matched accordingly. Then it is up to them to own the challenge and create an innovative idea to tackle it – always keeping the Design Thinking methodology at heart.
Track 1: Urban Resilience (The “Livable City”)
This track focuses on the city’s physical and ecological systems.
What to solve for: Traffic management, food security (urban agriculture), clean energy, and environmental protection.
Goal: Build a city that can sustain itself and move efficiently.
Track 2: Citizen Well-being (The “Safe Community” Track)
This track focuses on the health, safety, and development of the people.
What to solve for: Public health, safety and security, and the well-being of youth and families.
Goal: Create a safe, inclusive environment for all residents to thrive.
Track 3: Economic Growth & Talent (The “Opportunity” Track)
This track focuses on job creation and the commercialization of local talent.
What to solve for: Startups, MSME innovation, creative research (arts/heritage), and human capital/education.
Goal: Transform academic research and creative ideas into viable enterprises and new livelihoods.
Timeline
| 1 June | Registration opens for participation |
| 14 September | Registration closes |
| tbd | Virtual kick-off meeting for all participants |
| 1 / 2 November | Travel to Manila (All Saints & All Souls Day) |
| 2 November | optional: Discover Manila |
| 3 November | Travel to Baguio |
| 4 – 6 November | Train-the-Coach: Our Junior Coaches get a professional Design Thinking training |
| 9 – 12 November | 1 Day for Coaching Scenarios & Impact 3 days Design Thinking Challenge |
| 12 November | Pitch day and closing ceremony of Impact Week Philippines 2025 |
| 13 November | Travel to Manila for departures |
Participation
FEE
3500€ training fee + 750€ local costs
We are open to discussing special pricing if you represent a smaller or local company or if you are only interested in participating in the Train-the-Coach phase.
Due to the longstanding relationship with the Lufthansa Group for almost 9 years, participants from any Lufthansa Group company can participate at a reduced fee of 3.175 €.
What’s
included
-
Double-room accommodation
-
Airport transfers
-
Meals
Not
Included
-
International flights to/from the local Airport
-
Visa and vaccination fees
-
Recreational activities
Our partners for this event
Our Team for Baguio
Zeynep Duru Bakir
Organizer
zeynepdurubkr@gmail.com
Andrea Quintero
Marketing & Communications
andrea.quintero@impactweek.net
Onur
Organizer
sozenfeyzionur@gmail.com
Carolin Taenzer
Organizer
carolin.taenzer@impactweek.net
Alexander Abear
Organizer / Senior Coach
alexander.abear@benilde.edu.ph
What our former participants say
“Sending my employees to participate in various Impact Weeks was a wise decision, as it provided them with a deeply enriching and unique experience. Beyond embracing the human-centric essence of what Impact Week represents, becoming Design Thinking coaches and collaborating with groups of brilliant young students served as an excellent leadership exercise. It enhanced their ability to find innovative solutions, ignite enthusiasm, and effectively challenge and motivate their teams to unlock their full potential. This pragmatic approach also significantly enriched their skills in moderation, deep active listening, communication, intercultural collaboration, and leadership. They expressed their gratitude and eagerly stated they would gladly repeat the experience at any time..”
“The training and challenge allowed me to combine my passion for entrepreneurship, creative problem solving, and facilitation – I am truly grateful for everyone’s encouragement and guidance along the way.”