The Andrea J Scholarship Fund Programme at Raising Changemaker Teens enables Linda, Andrea's mother's vision of Young Changemakers, a movement to make it simple for people of all ages to give their time, talent, and treasure to causes they care about. Join us in making a meaningful difference today!
The story of Raising Changemakers Teens—a journey that began with two mothers on opposite sides of the world and a shared vision of empowering young people to know who they are, embrace their identity, and create meaningful change.
At the heart of our story is the turtle. 🐢 A symbol of resilience, hope, and advocacy, the turtle reminds us of what it means to rise with purpose, even in the face of challenges.
🌊 Andrea and Linda’s Story: Saving Turtles, Saving Lives
Linda Johnstone’s story begins with her daughter Andrea, who faced profound despair after a traumatic high school experience. At her lowest, Linda’s daughter felt life wasn’t worth living, and even expert mental health professionals struggled to help. Then, during one of their conversations, a spark appeared. They spoke about something Andrea had expressed to a friend and Linda had overheard; she had a deep concern about the endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica. This moment of purpose ignited hope. The conversations about saving the turtles saved Andrea's life. By becoming a changemaker and advocating for a cause far greater than herself, she found healing.
This experience inspired Linda and Andrea to create Changemaker Teens, a movement to help young people discover their purpose and find strength through advocacy and action.
🎨 My Story: Rediscovering Joy in Learning
My journey as a mother of two sons began with a commitment to letting them be themselves. My eldest son, diagnosed with autism, struggled to write in school. His teacher saw resistance; I saw a different rhythm. In our first week of homeschooling, he taught me something profound: he wanted to draw characters and scenery before writing about them. #creative
My younger son’s teacher said he couldn’t focus, but at home, we discovered he could focus deeply—just not on the conventional curriculum. What started as a seven-month experiment to build confidence became a lifestyle that prioritised joy and purpose in learning. Drawing from my decades of experience in the education of authentic communication, I created Changemaker Mums, supporting other mothers in empowering their teens to thrive with love, authenticity, and collaboration.
🌐 How Our Paths Intertwined
In 2020, I searched for the name Changemaker Teens and discovered Linda and her inspiring story. We connected across the globe—Linda in New York, US and me in Queensland, Australia—and quickly realised the synergy in our missions. Together, we merged our businesses into Changemaker Teens Global, combining her passion for purpose with my focus on communication and alternative education. As Linda’s four children grew into young adults, her vision evolved. She launched Young Changemakers, a movement to make it simple for people of all ages to give their time, talent, and treasure to causes they care about. I continued the journey with Raising Changemaker Teens, focusing on helping parents and educators guide teens and young adults to live authentically, communicate with love, and thrive. Through it all, Linda and I have shared a belief that our businesses will intertwine again—and in many ways, they’ve never truly parted. The turtle, a symbol of our shared beginnings, remains a part of both our brands, a reminder of the resilience and purpose we stand for.
The Andrea J Scholarship Fund Programme at Raising Changemaker Teens enables Linda, Andrea's mother's vision of Young Changemakers, a movement to make it simple for people of all ages to give their time, talent, and treasure to causes they care about. Join us in making a meaningful difference today!
The story of Raising Changemakers Teens—a journey that began with two mothers on opposite sides of the world and a shared vision of empowering young people to know who they are, embrace their identity, and create meaningful change.
At the heart of our story is the turtle. 🐢 A symbol of resilience, hope, and advocacy, the turtle reminds us of what it means to rise with purpose, even in the face of challenges.
🌊 Andrea and Linda’s Story: Saving Turtles, Saving Lives
Linda Johnstone’s story begins with her daughter Andrea, who faced profound despair after a traumatic high school experience. At her lowest, Linda’s daughter felt life wasn’t worth living, and even expert mental health professionals struggled to help. Then, during one of their conversations, a spark appeared. They spoke about something Andrea had expressed to a friend and Linda had overheard; she had a deep concern about the endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica. This moment of purpose ignited hope. The conversations about saving the turtles saved Andrea's life. By becoming a changemaker and advocating for a cause far greater than herself, she found healing.
This experience inspired Linda and Andrea to create Changemaker Teens, a movement to help young people discover their purpose and find strength through advocacy and action.
🎨 My Story: Rediscovering Joy in Learning
My journey as a mother of two sons began with a commitment to letting them be themselves. My eldest son, diagnosed with autism, struggled to write in school. His teacher saw resistance; I saw a different rhythm. In our first week of homeschooling, he taught me something profound: he wanted to draw characters and scenery before writing about them. #creative
My younger son’s teacher said he couldn’t focus, but at home, we discovered he could focus deeply—just not on the conventional curriculum. What started as a seven-month experiment to build confidence became a lifestyle that prioritised joy and purpose in learning. Drawing from my decades of experience in the education of authentic communication, I created Changemaker Mums, supporting other mothers in empowering their teens to thrive with love, authenticity, and collaboration.
🌐 How Our Paths Intertwined
In 2020, I searched for the name Changemaker Teens and discovered Linda and her inspiring story. We connected across the globe—Linda in New York, US and me in Queensland, Australia—and quickly realised the synergy in our missions. Together, we merged our businesses into Changemaker Teens Global, combining her passion for purpose with my focus on communication and alternative education. As Linda’s four children grew into young adults, her vision evolved. She launched Young Changemakers, a movement to make it simple for people of all ages to give their time, talent, and treasure to causes they care about. I continued the journey with Raising Changemaker Teens, focusing on helping parents and educators guide teens and young adults to live authentically, communicate with love, and thrive. Through it all, Linda and I have shared a belief that our businesses will intertwine again—and in many ways, they’ve never truly parted. The turtle, a symbol of our shared beginnings, remains a part of both our brands, a reminder of the resilience and purpose we stand for.
