Amplifying youth voices to combat development challenges
The success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) strongly depends on youth engagement and the active involvement of today’s innovators, eager to confront development challenges and weave a climate-safe future. As a part of its effort to listen to, nurture and incorporate ideas from the next generation of advocates, BASE will participate as a challenger-setter at the EPFL Tech4Impact Summer School, 2021.
The experiential learning program kickstarts on 28 June, spread over six activity-filled weeks that equip students with the skills and tools required to devise actionable solutions for societal challenges besetting the Global South. Through virtual workshops and mentoring sessions with development practitioners, technology experts, and social entrepreneurs, participants will be familiarised with tried and proven ways to design context-specific solutions focused on increasing both social as well as business value. With applications open to Bachelor and Master students from across the world, the program presents an exciting opportunity to work in diverse teams, engage in interdisciplinary interactions, and make a meaningful impact where it is most needed. To become a part of a growing community of changemakers, submit a 1-minute video detailing your motivation to join the program by 31 May.
This year, the challenges put forth by the NGOs and international development organisations run the gamut from wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration to water provision in refugee camps and solar-powered street cards for vendors in emerging markets. BASE has identified three problems pertaining to sustainable energy and climate change, awaiting to be infused with new creativity and passion for reaching viable solutions.
Three challenges, multiple possibilities
- How could we put in place efficient renewable energy systems for humanitarian organisations operating in refugee camps?
- How could we use innovative financial mechanisms and digitalisation to avoid deforestation happening rapidly in the great forests of our planet?
- How could we improve the circularity of solar energy technologies in developing countries?
You can find more information about the program here.
