Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2019/20
Young innovators develop their own game-changing ideas and make an impact for their communities.
ABOUT
Aiming to inspire young people with brilliant ideas, but without the resources to bring them to life, the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2019/20 took place in 36 countries worldwide and included young refugees, those who face daily discrimination due to their ethnicity, gender, or disability, and those who are disadvantaged by poverty.
A call for applications was launched in each of the 36 participating countries and successful applicants were invited to take part in design workshops. Following these workshops, the five most promising ideas from each country were selected and awarded USD 1,000 each in funding and provided with mentoring to support the projects’ implementation. Then, in June 2020, the most promising solutions from each country were submitted to a global judging process.
In December 2020, Ilwad Elman, a young GenU Board of Trustees member, and UNICEF, UNDP, Plan International, and the Scouts finally announced the global winners of the challenge, in an event that celebrated the efforts of the 15 million young participants and showcased the transformative power of youth-led innovation!
The event saw the crowning of 8 winning teams that span all continents, which are set to receive further funding of up to $15,000 USD, along with a tailored global incubation programme from Generation Unlimited partners to support them to scale. Their creative ideas include Venus Arm, a team of teenagers who have created a 3D printed bionic arm that is 1/30th of the price of existing prosthetics and can ‘grow’ with children.
The most promising ideas will contribute to the success of Generation Unlimited, an ambitious multi-sector public-private global partnership meant to meet the urgent needs for expanded education, training and employment opportunities for young people on an unprecedented scale.
The Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2019/20 is co-hosted globally by four Generation Unlimited partners – UNICEF, UNDP, Plan International and the World Organization of the Scout Movement, with support from Irish Aid.
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Eastern/Central Europe and Central Asia
Armenia
Hungary
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Tajikistan
Central and Southern Africa
Congo
Ghana
Kenya
Niger
Nigeria
Sao Tome and Principe
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Middle East and North Africa
Algeria
Djibouti
Egypt
Lebanon
Palestine
Syria
South and East Asia
Bangladesh
India
Nepal
Pacific Islands (Fifi)
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Timor L'Este
Latin America, Caribbean, and North America
Brazil
Guyana
Mexico
Nicaragua
Suriname
United States of America
Uruguay
Youth Challenge 2018/19
See more stories below for details and background on the first round ever iteration, Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2018/19, which took place in 16 countries and engaged over 800 young innovators!