After a year marked by natural disasters, refugee crises, and political turmoil, it can be a challenge to not become discouraged. But take a closer look, and you’ll see the progress being made all around us. As the end of 2017 approaches, we’ve gathered up the good news: the spectacular accomplishments of Skoll social entrepreneurs, always hard at work to solve some of the world’s thorniest problems. These social entrepreneurs and their organizations have managed to extend their reach, deepen their impact, and fundamentally shift society towards health, justice, peace, and prosperity. Here are a few highlights.

VisionSpring and BRAC distributed more than 1 million affordable eyeglasses to Bangladeshi customers.

In Tanzania, literacy test scores among marginalized girls reached by the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) showed more than double the rate of learning than among girls in comparison schools, and nearly five times the rate in math.

Kiva launched a multi-million dollar World Refugee Fund earlier this year to crowdfund loans for refugees, displaced people, and their host communities, to help them start or expand a business, increase income, and create jobs. The fund helps refugees move beyond emergency aid to regain stability and build for the future.

Read the full list of Skoll awardees who made an impact in 2017 by Robyn Park at Skoll.