From Perth to Central Park: How Michael Sheldrick and Global Citizen Are Fighting Extreme Poverty

What began as a university student's passion project in Perth, Western Australia has grown into one of the most powerful advocacy movements in the world. Michael Sheldrick, co-founder of Global Citizen and author of From Ideas to Impact, has spent the last 15 years mobilizing millions of people to take action against extreme poverty, disease, and inequality.

Sheldrick, who also serves as a Rotarian, credits an unlikely combination of personal struggle, inspiring mentorship, and grassroots organizing for sparking what would become a global phenomenon. As a student who nearly fell through the cracks of Australia's education system, he found direction when a teacher refused to give up on him. That experience lit a fire.

"You may not believe in yourself, but I believe in you, and I think there's more to you than meets the eye," his teacher told him years ago. Those words pushed Sheldrick from the bottom of his class to the top 1% of his state, into law school, and eventually onto the world stage.

Building a Movement

Sheldrick co-founded Global Citizen roughly 15 years ago alongside two other university students. The organization operates around a simple but powerful premise: ordinary citizens, when organized and motivated, can push governments and institutions to act on the world's most pressing problems. Today, the platform boasts more than 12.5 million active members across more than 150 countries.

The model is innovative by design. Users download the Global Citizen app, take actions such as signing petitions or contacting elected officials, and earn points that can be redeemed for tickets to concerts and live events. The first major event featured John Legend performing in Australia, where it helped secure a $50 million commitment from the Australian government for polio eradication. Nine months later, in September 2012, Sheldrick found himself on the Great Lawn of Central Park for the inaugural Global Citizen Festival, headlined by Neil Young and the Foo Fighters.

"I came expecting to stay for six months," Sheldrick recalls. Six months became two years. Two years became more than a decade.

Still Fighting Polio

One of Global Citizen's longest-standing partnerships has been with Rotary International in the fight to eradicate polio. Rotary first championed polio eradication in 1988, the year Sheldrick was born, and it was Rotarians in Perth who encouraged him to take on the issue as one of Global Citizen's first campaigns.

Since then, the global incidence of polio has been reduced by 99.9%. But as Sheldrick points out, that final fraction still matters. A recent news report confirmed that a case of polio was detected in sewage water in Perth, Australia. Because vaccination rates there are high, health officials expect it to be contained. Still, the detection underscores a sobering reality.

"So long as polio remains anywhere, it is a threat everywhere," Sheldrick says. "That's why 99.9% isn't good enough."

The FIFA World Cup Partnership and a $100 Million Education Fund

Global Citizen is currently the official charity partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Through this partnership, the organization is working to raise $100 million to fund education and literacy initiatives around the world. The first 27 grant recipients are set to be announced soon, and applications will also open for eligible organizations, including Rotary Clubs running education projects internationally. Grants of $50,000 are available to qualifying community organizations.

Other recent partnerships have included work with Rewild (co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio) to protect the Amazon rainforest, a major festival in Brazil with Coldplay's Chris Martin, and an initiative in South Africa to bring energy access to 17.5 million homes.

Global Citizen Now: May 14 in New York

On May 14, Global Citizen is hosting its Global Citizen Now event at Spring Studios in Lower Manhattan. The event will feature speakers including actor Hugh Jackman and artist Common, alongside grant recipients and business leaders. Those interested in attending can register by visiting globalcitizen.org, connecting with Sheldrick on LinkedIn, or searching "Global Citizen Now New York May 14."

From Ideas to Impact

Sheldrick recently published From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing Change in a Divided World, an eight-step guide for anyone who wants to create meaningful change, from individual citizens to small business owners to public figures. The book grew out of his belief that one of the biggest barriers to progress is people feeling like their actions don't matter.

"The way to begin is to begin," he says, quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, whose words he keeps on a fridge magnet at home.

The book is available at michaelsheldrick.com and on Amazon, Audible, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble.

Listen to the full interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dr4RGhsZJnNknShyPjoXI?si=8MWkQ8ZlQvq6j_8r5gcRMQ