Community Updates: November 2023
Our global community of youth here at Youth STEM 2030 are tackling the world’s biggest challenges through science, technology, engineering and maths, creating a real impact across all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Here’s how some of them have been changing the world lately…
Luis Selected as a Rise Global Winner
We were thrilled to hear that Luis Fernando Ortega Hanco, a member of the Youth STEM Matters Team, has been selected from thousands of applicants as a Rise Global Winner!
He was named one of 100 Rise Global Winners, for his Rise project, an app which connects people through sustainable arts and craft activities. He plans to establish an NGO which will inspire other young people to break down social barriers by empowering students to drive positive change within their communities.
Rise is a global program that provides promising young people (age 15-17) with opportunities for life as they work towards solving humanity’s most pressing problems, and applications for Rise 2024 are currently open until 17 January 2024.
Macdonald and Diana Named 776 Foundation Climate Fellows
Youth STEM Summit speakers Diana Virgovicova and Macdonald Chirara have each been named as one of 20 young people in the 2023 class of 776 Foundation Climate Fellows. Every year, the 776 Foundation selects 20 global climate fellows who receive a grant of $100,000 USD from Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, to empower and enable them to make their world-changing ideas come to life.
Diana is building her ambitious ideas through climate startup, Xatoms, where she’s revolutionising water treatment with AI-assisted molecule discovery. Meanwhile, Macdonald is building Everlasting Technology, where he’s empowering communities with sustainable energy solutions.
Congratulations Macdonald and Diana - we can’t wait to see the global impacts your projects have!
Nina and Michael Announced as Time Fellows
Youth STEM Matters Team Alumni Nina Khera and 2021 Youth STEM Summit Speaker Michael Trinh have both recently been announced as 2023 Time fellows! This exceptional group of fellows are creating a world where we can all live healthier longer, supported by Time Initiative.
Super impressive work Nina and Michael, we are excited to see where being a TIME fellow takes you both!
Victor Gives a TEDx Talk!
Victor Olufemi, a member of our Youth STEM Matters Team, recently gave an incredibly insightful TEDx Talk on his insights related to AI and the future of Africa, revolving around the vital need to democratise AI across the African continent while showcasing how we can harness the power of AI to thrive.
The TEDxJibowu event is held annually, enabling an audience of youth to share ideas and spark conversations around the future of Africa. Victor shared his experience in an online post saying “The “talk” never truly ends. The future of Africa hinges on the actions we take today.”
Amazing achievement Victor - keep up the impressive work!
Victórya & Hammed Selected for Western Union Foundation Fellowship
Victórya Leal (2024 Youth STEM Summit Design Team) and Hammed Kayode Alabi (2021 Youth STEM Summit Speaker) have been selected from 2,200 applicants as part of a cohort of 47 leaders in the Western Union Foundation Fellowship.
The Western Union Foundation Fellowship is conducted by the Watson Institute, and is a global and virtual program designed to equip these next-generation entrepreneurs and leaders with invaluable skills and experience.
With the support of the programme, Victórya will further develop her e-commerce app for Brazilian thrift stores, FIDERE - which she previously presented at the Youth STEM Matters Research Conference - with the aim of spreading the app’s impact beyond her community.
Hammed looks forward to scaling and deepening Skill2RuralBootcamp, a social innovation of Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career initiative (KLCI) through the support of the fellowship. The Skill2RuralBootcamp empowers young people in underserved communities to identify a problem in their communities and co-create solutions to them.
Congratulations Hammed and Victórya on this next step to grow your impactful STEM solutions to global challenges!
Ruvarashe's School Project Finalist in Global Sustainability Prize
Ruvarashe Moyo, an alumni of the Youth STEM Matters Team, has continued making an impact for a more sustainable world, and her USAP Community School has been named a finalist of the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize!
Winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize will be announced at the awards ceremony on 1 December 2023, during COP28 UAE.
Congratulations on all your work Ruvarashe - all of us at Youth STEM 2030 are wishing you the best of luck!
Anika Represents Youth as Delegate at UN SDGs Summit
Anika Dugal, was recently in New York as a delegate to the 2023 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit and 78th General Assembly! She’s been driving changed for the SDGs for several years, both through her role in the Youth STEM Matters Team, and through other projects. While at the Summit, Anika had the chance to meet with world leaders, delegates from around the world, and shared her views in multiple panels and high-level events, on topics like lethal autonomous weapons, gender disparities, and the intersection of technology and democracy.
We were thrilled to support Anika’s application for a delegate pass, and to see Anika representing young people’s voices at this important event!
Have a project, achievement or update that you want to feature in future Youth STEM 2030 Community Updates? Email the details to Mhairi McCann: mhairi@youthstem2030.org
