Innovation Prize: Meet the next generation of changemakers

Around the world, young people lead positive change as innovators, activists, entrepreneurs and organizers – igniting social movements and initiatives to tackle the issues impacting their lives and communities.

While this next generation possesses the passion and expertise to effect positive change, they often lack access to the critical support and mentorship needed to turn their ideas into reality. Increasingly, the private sector is recognizing this need and stepping up to play a significant role in expanding opportunities and accelerating progress for the next generation.

At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024, the Global Shapers Community, Accenture, and the Global Alliance for YOUth launched the Innovation Prize. Each year, 10,000 rising leaders in 500 city-based hubs across the Global Shapers Community globally will be invited to apply for support to accelerate their transformative ideas.

The Innovation Prize provides access to specialized training, mentorship and financial support to best-in-class projects led by Global Shapers. It rewards innovative solutions led by young people that enhance the well-being and prosperity of their communities. Topics range from nature conservation to future-ready skills and fostering more inclusive societies.

"When we invest in the Global Shapers Community, we invest in our collective future," says Ellyn Shook, chief leadership and human resources officer at Accenture. "It is my passion and a key priority for Accenture to help individuals grow as leaders, equipping them with the skills and opportunities to create a more sustainable and inclusive society. The Innovation Prize will accelerate the impact and reach Global Shapers have to drive positive change in our world."

"We are living in times that require bold and decisive actions. More than ever, the private sector must join forces to build bridges and support young generations to play an active role in solving society's biggest problems," says Laurent Freixe, CEO of Zone Latin America at Nestlé and Global Alliance for YOUth founder and chairman.

"In that context, The Global Alliance for YOUth is proud to collaborate with the Global Shapers Community to launch the Innovation Prize, a platform to reward and accelerate breakthrough solutions for youth by youth," she adds.

The 2024 Innovation Prize winners tackle diverse challenges that matter to young people; each project exemplifies inventive solutions and strategies to create positive change.

Following a rigorous selection process focused on identifying the most impactful and innovative solutions, the winners are:

Global Shapers are powering a career accelerator programme to help early-career graduates in Ghana build skills and gain hands-on experience to catapult their careers. In the project’s pilot, 60% of participants secured economic opportunities in less than three months after completion.

The Global Shapers Accra Hub plans to train and place 100 new graduations, with the long-term goal of automating content delivery to reach 10,000 young people in the next three years.

Young innovators in Amsterdam are developing a new navigation app to help people with reduced mobility identify accessible walking routes across the city. Global Shapers will leverage the app’s data to advocate for long-term solutions to make the city more inclusive, navigable and accessible.

Global Shapers are bridging the gender gap in academic and professional opportunities through mobile learning centres across Tanzania, ensuring young women and girls have the necessary skills to succeed.

Three centres have reached over 300 students to date and the hub aims to launch five more centres by 2025, transforming local learning for hundreds of girls. Niboreshe is not just a project but a movement towards equality and opportunity.

Young innovators are accelerating healthcare access for amputees through a generative AI-powered platform accessible via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

The platform offers a well-developed set of tools for building an amputee support network, including tips for caregivers, friends, and family. This framework empowers individuals to reclaim their independence, which enhances their quality of life and promotes inclusivity within the healthcare system.

Global Shapers are addressing critical gaps in menstrual health education and access to hygiene products for young women by establishing Safe Space clubs, delivering self-esteem workshops and equipping adolescent girls with the confidence and tools to achieve their goals.

To date, the Ilorin Hub has reached 300 girls and has plans to train 200 Safe Space Ambassadors with the long-term goal of reaching 2,000 teenage girls.

Young changemakers are establishing learning centres via popup libraries in relief camps to provide educational and cultural resources to displaced children, including refugees and underserved communities. The initiative is transforming relief camps into vibrant learning centres.

By building libraries and providing diverse books, the project bridges educational gaps and fosters resilience. It also includes mentorship to help children embrace learning despite adversity.

Global Shapers provide comprehensive career guidance to students, equipping them with the skills necessary for successful futures. Through individual coaching and joint workshops, Global Shapers have reached over 500 students and aims to connect 1,000 students to better education and economic opportunities by 2025.

Rising leaders in Kathmandu are strengthening civic engagement by equipping young people in Nepal with the knowledge, know-how and tools to participate fully in democratic processes. A pioneering political leadership accelerator aims to create informed voters and future electoral candidates.

Global Shapers are reimagining mental health support for young adults in Morocco by offering online sessions with peer coaches and psychologists to reduce stigma and enhance accessibility to necessary resources.

Young activists developed an AI-powered satellite surveillance tool to track deforestation in Mexico. The tool aims to reduce environmental degradation, safeguard 60,000 square kilometres of forest and protect ecosystems and the communities reliant on them by leveraging community engagement.

Global Shapers are providing marginalized girls with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education through a 12-week capacity-building programme. Students not only learn to code but also create mobile apps to solve real-world challenges. To date, 170 girls have participated and cohorts will soon expand from 17 to 55 students, with a goal of teaching another 200 girls by 2025.

Changemakers in Cambodia empower young people with financial literacy training to better budget, save and invest. Global Shapers have reached 4,000 young people aged 10 to 17, breaking down educational and cultural barriers and paving the way for an equitable financial future.

Global Shapers are championing accessible design education, teaching students aged 4-16 about urban innovation and advocacy. Many students are newcomers to the city, creating a sense of belonging and providing hands-on opportunities to reshape public spaces and advocate for change.

Young activists are establishing keyhole gardens and greenhouses in favelas to increase agricultural capacity, foster resilience against climate change and promote environmental stewardship. The gardens uphold traditional farming practices and aim to support 500 families by 2025.

Global Shapers deliver water filters and health education to families grappling with vulnerabilities caused by inadequate access to clean water. Their efforts are reducing bacterial infections, dehydration, and missed days at school and work, as well as increasing local resilience in Colombia.

Congratulations to all the talented Global Shapers who participated and, of course, to the deserving winners. To learn more about the winning solutions, tune into the Global Shapers Annual Summit 2024 on LinkedIn from 10-12 July and support young people’s efforts to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

The Global Shapers Community is a network of more than 18,000 next-generation leaders driving dialogue, action, and change in more than 500 hubs in over 150 countries and territories. Located in capital cities, remote islands, and refugee camps, Global Shapers work together to design projects to enhance their communities, address local challenges and create a sense of belonging.

The Global Alliance for YOUth is a coalition of 25 companies working together to ensure young people find jobs, thrive at work, or start their own companies. Member companies have created over 40 million development opportunities for youth worldwide in the last four years.