Aussie kids challenged to solve global problems during lockdown
2 June 2020 at 5:12 pm
The challenge aims to give students of all ages an opportunity to showcase ideas for creating a better Australia
An Australian social enterprise is attempting to bring out the inner-entrepreneur in school kids learning remotely, launching an online learning challenge that will have kids solving some of the world’s biggest problems.
The Westpac Youth Impact Challenge, created by Fiftysix Creations, tasks kids to come up with a business or social change solution that contributes to one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The platform has been designed to encourage self-sufficient learning for the majority of school-aged kids, with video tutorials and worksheets available to coach students through the process.
Taj Pabari, the founder of Fiftysix Creations, said he hoped the challenge would give kids a chance to unlock and showcase their creative ideas.
“At the heart of our communities there are some incredibly bright young entrepreneurs waiting for the platform they need to transform our world and change things for the better,” Pabari said.
“We need to harness the potential of our school kids and see what keys they can offer to unlocking our future.”
Across the country, children are gradually returning to their classrooms but many parents are still navigating the challenges of remote learning. Pabari said he hoped the challenge would help inspire kids and keep them engaged during this tricky time.
“Some of the most innovative ideas in history have been born in challenging environments,” he said.
Industry judges will pick the nine top ideas, with winning students receiving a Microsoft Surface, a $3,000 scholarship to attend the SingularityU Australia Summit, and a 12 month mentorship package from Fiftysix Creations and Westpac.
Applications are open now until 13 August 2020.
