ost of us have heard of crowdsourcing sites that offer people new ways to get involved and make a difference in society. In an attempt to help individuals connect and build relationships with people involved in development projects, as well as encourage change-inducing stories, in 2008 Deron Triff and Alex Hofmann conceptualised Changents, a digital storytelling platform that helps change agents or individuals on the front lines of environmental and social change, broadcast their stories using social media to mobilise support around the globe.

"On Changents, individuals tell their stories using blogs, photos, videos, Twitter and podcasts. Like a Craigslist for social change, they may post volunteer requests to which people can respond to provide help. Volunteer requests can range from simple things like asking for advice or signing a petition, to highly specialised requests like creating business plans or designing mobile applications. Backers are 'fans' of the change agent who help to propel their missions and become part of their stories through the action they take to help," Hofmann told Guardian20.

These action heroes have uprooted their lives and are taking risks, all because they are inspired to grapple with problems facing mankind.

Hofmann says, "Changents was launched to serve the change agents who are engaged in epic quests of their own to help the world. These action heroes have uprooted their lives and are taking risks that most people can scarcely imagine, all because they are inspired to grapple with the most intractable social and environmental problems facing mankind."

The emergence of social media provided the duo with the opportunity to create Changents as a platform that could propel these 'heroes', through stories told in their own voices, and help align meaningful actions from supporters to help them.

Changents, which supports agents working in 35 countries across six continents, has registered members from 70 countries and has managed to provide financial support and promotional value in excess of $100,000 to the change agents.

Trina Talukdar, a Changent and co-founder of Kranti, an organisation that works towards the empowerment of India's socially disadvantaged young women, has got 17 backers who are helping her look for an apartment for herself and eight marginalised girls.

"There are other platforms to voice the success stories/struggles of an organisation, but none to voice the feelings of the people who run the organisation. For me, Changents has been that platform where I can write about my personal life and how the organisation's struggles/successes affect me. Changents has helped me reach a wide readership," she says.

However, she adds, she often regrets the fact that people from halfway across the world show support and believe in Kranti's cause and work, while those in India rarely show any interest.

Changent Aneri Patel agrees. She feels her project EcoLife Store which provides environmentally friendly products to communities in order to improve their health and sanitation while reducing carbon emissions, is getting exposure mainly through the platform.

"I haven't submitted any funding or volunteer requests. For me, this site is a way to bring exposure to the EcoLife Store. You never know who is out there reading about it and would request for more information," she says.

*This article was edited on 11/07/11 after an error was discovered in the original matter. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.