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SDG Impact Projects

Every year 100 young leaders from over 30 countries collaborated to create over 20 impact projects addressing

UN Sustainable Development Goals. Below, you find information about selected projects, some of which are currently mentored by the University of Oxford in the follow-up of GLC 2020-2023.

PeerUp India is a digital peer mentoring platform designed to support care leavers (CLs) transitioning out of Child Care Institutions (CCIs). In India, approximately 1.5 million children live in CCIs, according to UNICEF. While these institutions provide shelter and basic needs, the real challenge begins when these young adults turn 18 and must navigate adulthood on their own. Research shows that while about 50% of care leavers manage to pursue higher education and savings, a significant number lack social and organizational support. This lack of guidance often leads to unemployment, housing insecurity, and social isolation, leaving care leavers vulnerable to poverty and exploitation.

The absence of a structured support system for these young adults makes it difficult for them to transition into stable careers and independent lives. Many struggle to secure employment or find suitable accommodation. Some rely on informal networks of fellow care leavers, while others face extreme hardships. We believe that structured mentorship can bridge this gap by offering peer-driven guidance and access to essential resources.

PeerUp India seeks to create a safe and structured mentoring network, where experienced care leavers act as mentors to those in need. Through AI-driven mentor-mentee matching, we will ensure that each individual is paired with someone who understands their challenges. The platform will also provide career guidance, skill-building workshops, and mental health support, helping care leavers make informed decisions about their future. Additionally, we aim to partner with NGOs, corporate CSR programs, and educational institutions to expand access to opportunities.

By providing emotional support, career guidance, and structured mentorship, PeerUp India has the potential to increase employment rates, improve mental well-being, and create a strong community where no care leaver feels abandoned. Our goal is to make sure that every young adult leaving institutional care has the resources and network needed to succeed in life.

PEER-UP INDIA:

This project seeks to transform how individuals perceive and interact with information by leveraging the engaging power of gamification. Participants will directly experience the consequences of both receiving and disseminating misinformation, including propaganda.

By immersing players in simulated scenarios, we aim to:
Raise awareness: Increase understanding of how information can be manipulated and the resulting societal impacts.
Foster critical thinking: Develop skills to identify and evaluate the credibility of information sources.
Promote responsible information sharing: Encourage ethical behavior in the digital age.
This project envisions a ripple effect, with knowledge and behavioral changes passed down across generations, creating a more informed and resilient society.

DisinfoSim

Vietnam produces 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, but less than 30% is recycled. This leads to severe environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emissions from degrading plastic in landfills and ocean pollution. The project aims to tackle this crisis by turning plastic waste into green asphalt for road construction, an approach successfully implemented in Malaysia and other countries.

Beyond technical innovation, the project integrates creative awareness campaigns, such as virtual art galleries, to engage communities in understanding and addressing plastic pollution. This participatory approach fosters behavioral change and collective responsibility for environmental sustainability.

The impact of this project is twofold:

Short-term: It creates employment opportunities, enhances local infrastructure, and reduces waste accumulation in landfills and waterways.
Long-term: It establishes a circular waste management system that lowers carbon footprints, supports climate resilience, and contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
The project's success relies on three key pillars:

Innovation – Developing sustainable construction solutions using recycled plastic.
Education – Raising awareness through artistic and digital storytelling methods.
Collaboration – Partnering with local stakeholders to scale solutions and maximize impact.
This initiative demonstrates that climate leadership is not limited to governments or corporations—it begins with individuals and communities taking action. By transforming waste into valuable resources, the project paves the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

GREEN ASPHALT - From plastic waste to infrastructure

At ReStart, we are guided by seven core principles: Resolve, Empower, Sustain, Transform, Aspire, Rebuild, and Thrive. These values shape our mission to build an inclusive and sustainable education system that empowers individuals to create meaningful change, directly contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are dedicated to addressing the gaps in global awareness, access to technology, and leadership skills, particularly within underserved communities. Our goal is to contribute to the achievement of SDG 4, while also advancing SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace and Justice). By equipping individuals in these communities with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need, we aim to create meaningful social impact and foster sustainable global solutions, focusing on system methodology and the interconnectedness of problem-solving. Our initiatives include offering skill development courses in vital areas such as tech for social impact, responsible leadership, and global citizenship. These courses are crafted to provide both technical and soft skills, driving innovation, job creation, and ethical decision-making. By emphasizing responsible leadership, we ensure that participants not only contribute to economic growth but are also well-equipped to address global challenges such as sustainability, inequality, and conflict.

Skill Development Courses Focus Areas:

• Tech for Social Impact: App & Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular, React). AI & Robotics for human-centric solutions.
• Global Citizenship and SDGs: Understanding SDGs and designing actionable solutions.
• Responsible Leadership & Project Management: Democratic theories, leadership tools, resource management, and ethical decision-making.
• Communication & Digital Marketing: Effective communication strategies and digital outreach.
• Capstone Projects: Teams collaborate on SDG-focused projects, supported by mentors.

The Agora Platform is central to this vision, providing participants with the chance to engage in annual simulations that tackle global issues such as migration, diplomacy, and sustainability. These simulations foster collaboration and leadership, guiding participants to develop practical, actionable solutions to real-world problems. Additionally, our Global Network for Ambassadors connects young leaders from diverse backgrounds, fostering mentorship and cross-border collaboration, which is essential for long-term knowledge transfer and global cooperation.

Our approach is centered on the Theory of Change, which begins with key inputs like an inclusive curriculum, mentorship, and technology. These lead to activities such as simulations, project-based learning, and skill-building workshops, resulting in individuals who gain leadership, technical, and communication skills. The outcomes are globally aware leaders and skilled professionals driving innovation and sustainable solutions. Ultimately, our impact is a resilient workforce that contributes to SDG achievement, fostering peace, prosperity, and environmental sustainability. In the short term, our efforts will focus on raising global awareness, empowering individuals with critical skills, and expanding access to broader opportunities through strategic partnerships. In the long term, we aim to develop a skilled, globally aware workforce that drives systemic change. Through our Montessori-inspired curriculum, we foster ethical leadership and responsibility, empowering individuals to create lasting, positive change in their communities and contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

ReStart: Pioneering the 5th Industrial Era

The key impact of Match-a-Buddy is fostering personal connections that enhance academic success, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging in students.

In our various communities and countries, we have chosen to highlight the following specific problems (bullets), Tackling problems like high dropout rates, lack of school-related aspirations, and lack of individuality is crucial because these issues undermine students' potential, perpetuate cycles of poverty, and hinder societal progress by depriving communities of empowered, skilled, and confident individuals who can contribute meaningfully to their development.

What is the specific problem you tackle? / and why does it matter?
• High dropout rate
• Lack of school-related aspirations
• Lack of individuality

How do you plan to tackle the problem?
• Early intervention
• Peer mentoring and communication
• Academic and emotional support
• 3 year rotation-2 years minimum (twice a week)
• Certificate and recognition incentive
• Tracking progress

Target participants: children/students between the ages 6-18 and university students

Training: communication, academic assistance, diversity to ensure inclusivity and emotional support.

• Phase 1
- Divide ages to 6-12
- Pair students in the school based on interest and personality, goals and greater relatability.
- Pair students to university student with similar interests
- Students will offer academic support, emotional support
- Include fun, non-academic bonding activities
- Regular check-ins build a sense of belonging

• Phase 2
- Age group 12-18
- Pair students in the school based on interest and personality, goals and greater relatability.
- Pair students to university students with similar interests
- Students will offer academic support, emotional support
- Include fun, non-academic bonding activities

Impact:
What will be the short and long term outcomes?
• Building confidence (help identify and nurture talents or interest outside academics)
• Social integration
• Retention rates
• Personalized support (one-on-one guidance)
• Motivational Boost
How does this project demonstrate responsible leadership in action?
• Fostering Inclusivity and Equity
• It ensures that all students, especially those at risk of being marginalized, receive personal attention and support tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.
• Encouraging Mentorship and Role Modeling
• By creating opportunities for older or more experienced buddies to mentor younger students, it builds a culture of responsibility and positive influence among participants.
• Promoting Accountability
• Buddies take ownership of their roles, consistently supporting their assigned peers and reporting progress, demonstrating commitment to shared goals.
• Empowering Communities Through Shared Responsibility
• The program involves youth at different stages of life, allowing kids to por into one another.
• Developing Future Leaders
• Participants in the program learn valuable skills like communication, empathy, and problem-solving, preparing them to take on leadership roles in their schools and communities.
• Ensuring Sustainability and Growth
• Responsible leadership is demonstrated by building a scalable and adaptable framework, ensuring the program’s benefits extend to more students over time while addressing evolving challenges.

Match-A-Buddy

What’s the specific problem you tackle and why does it matter?

Currently, Madagascar and Malagasy people face several pressing challenges. There are two main specific problems that I tackle through initiatives led by my grassroots organization called Mi’Art Eco:

1) Poverty can worsen the environmental issues

According to the World Bank, 80% of Madagascar’s population lives under $2 per day. Moreover, nearly half of Malagasy people are illiterate and without basic education. Traditional agriculture and farming are the most common ways to make a living. Despite land and environment being key to their livelihoods, many Malagasy people lack awareness of the importance of natural resources and how climate change can affect their lives. Extreme poverty affects collective efforts towards environmental conservation because no one can prioritize the environment without meeting their immediate needs.

2) Deforestation

As the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has reported, 80% of Madagascar’s natural forest has been lost in Madagascar due to slash-and-burn agriculture and charcoal practices. Currently, 95% of Malagasy people still use charcoal and wood to cook and to make money to survive.

ACTIONS

Our Clean Cooking Initiative at Mi’Art Eco is guided by the following four actions:

1) Advancing reforestation

Using Smart Reforestation Approach:

- Identifying soil
- Mixing trees: Fast, Native and Agroforestry
- Monitoring and Evaluation

2) Promoting green charcoal and energy-saving cooking stoves

- Train many people to make charcoal made out of organic waste instead of cutting trees down and using wood for cooking.
- Teaching them to produce cooking stoves which save energy
- Start business

3) Building climate change awareness

- Environmental education Program from primary school in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education.
- Train more responsible community leaders
- Use technology to raise climate change awareness (social media platforms, Radio, storytelling)

4) Advocating for a clean cooking initiative.

- Foster partnership with the government to implement waste management policies in Madagascar.
- Develop climate justice strategies

IMPACTS

1) Short-term outcomes

 Create 10% job opportunities such as agribusiness, farming and agriculture, handcraft, and recycling waste every year.
 This year, we can provide 500 cooking stoves for 100 family members.
 From 2021 to 2024, we saved 200 hectares of mangrove forests.
 1000 people will be educated on the impact of climate change every year.

2) Long-term outcomes

We strive to reduce the risks of climate change and deforestation by 50% and create permanent job opportunities for young people, especially women by 2030 in Madagascar. Malagasy people will live in a peaceful environment and have sustainable incomes.

RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP

Our project demonstrates responsible leadership in the following ways:
1. We Lead by leaving no one behind. We strive for sustainability by supporting greener environmental practices that respect local Malagasy customs and the needs of affected communities. We prioritize integrity, diversity, and inclusion in all ways.

2. We lead with empathy and compassion. We pledge to listen and make sure that all voices, especially those of vulnerable communities, are heard and considered to find sustainable solutions.

3. We share knowledge and skill-building: We equip youth and adults with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand the impacts of climate change impacts and to produce ecological charcoal by recycling crop waste and renewable energy transition.

4. We collaborate with different stakeholders. To scale our impact for building a greener future, we work with local partners such as Regional Directorate of Environment, WWF and Authentic product Madagascar that align with our approach to conserving Madagascar’s environment

5. We integrate arts in our conservation efforts. At the heart of our approach is the use of arts and creativity, which we believe are essential for raising awareness and making environmental education more accessible.

Clean cooking Initiative in Madagascar

The global education system often fails to adapt to the diverse learning needs of students, leaving many underserved. Marginalized groups, students with disabilities, and those in low-income communities face significant barriers, such as limited resources and infrastructure, preventing access to quality education. This one-size-fits-all approach perpetuates inequalities and hinders academic success for millions.

EduFlex addresses this challenge by leveraging AI to provide personalized, adaptive learning tailored to individual needs. The platform integrates multilingual, culturally sensitive, and accessible features like voice-to-text, gamification, and real-time feedback, ensuring inclusivity for learners from diverse backgrounds. By partnering with educators and institutions, EduFlex aligns its methods with existing curricula and offers training to effectively implement the solution.

Short-term, EduFlex will enhance student engagement and improve academic outcomes. Long-term, it aims to bridge educational disparities, promote inclusion, and empower learners worldwide to reach their full potential. The scalable platform is designed to adapt to various educational contexts, creating a sustainable solution for global education challenges.

By fostering collaboration with educators, leveraging AI ethically, and prioritizing inclusivity, EduFlex embodies responsible leadership in action. Its innovative approach transforms education into an equitable, personalized experience for all, ensuring no student is left behind.

EduFlex: AI-Powered Personalized Learning for All

The RISE project addresses the critical mental health challenges faced by Indigenous Arctic communities, driven by the understanding that mental health is a pivotal aspect of overall well-being, particularly in regions with extreme environmental and social stressors. Indigenous populations in the Arctic face unique mental health challenges, exacerbated by factors like isolation, climate change, and cultural erosion, making access to culturally sensitive mental health services essential.
Our initiative focuses on creating a comprehensive online platform that centralizes mental health resources and facilitates collaboration among healthcare professionals. This digital resource aims to bridge the gap in mental health services, ensuring that care is both accessible and culturally informed. To complement the online platform, RISE also envisions conducting in-person training workshops for local healthcare providers. These workshops are designed to enhance the skills of local practitioners, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to offer effective, culturally appropriate care.
The impact of RISE is twofold: firstly, it seeks to empower Indigenous communities by advocating for their rights to accessible and culturally relevant healthcare. Secondly, it aims to strengthen the mental health service framework within these communities, enhancing the quality and reach of mental health care. By focusing on culturally-informed care and community-driven solutions, RISE aspires to create a more inclusive and equal healthcare environment. This initiative not only addresses the immediate need for improved mental health services but also contributes to the long-term resilience and sustainability of Indigenous Arctic communities.

RISE: Responsible Indigenous Support & Empowerment

Horizons of Hope tackles the pressing issue of mental health (MH) among teen refugees in Southern Italy, where 40-50% experience MH disorders, and there's a scarcity of provision and resources. MH is integral to well-being, societal contributions, and political integration. The project implements outdoor retreats, engaging 13-17-year-olds in nature-based activities to enhance mental resilience. With a circular mentorship model, former participants become facilitators, fostering leadership and a continual cycle of learning. The long-term impact includes resilience, social skills, and lifelong well-being for participants, while promoting integration, understanding, and economic contribution in the local community and society at large.

Responsible Leadership:
Horizons of Hope demonstrates responsible leadership through a vision focused on addressing little-known MH issues in refugee teens with curiosity, purpose, and creativity. The action plan combines team knowledge with research synthesis, utilizing skills in teamwork, shared leadership, adaptability, risk management, organization, budgeting, and programming. The project values empathy, humility, and resources, caring for teens' well-being, taking a culturally-sensitive approach, and developing human capital. Collaboration, care, and commitment underscore the project's approach.

Impact:
The short-term outcomes include resilience, social skills, coping mechanisms, confidence, and skill development for teen participants, with long-term benefits of lifelong well-being, empowerment, and advocacy skills. The impact extends to the local community and wider society, fostering integration, understanding, skills for teenagers, friendships, greater economic and cultural contributions of refugees, and promoting inclusivity and gender equality.

Collaboration - Care - Commitment:
Horizons of Hope embodies collaboration through a circular mentorship model, care by addressing the scarcity of MH resources for teen refugees, and commitment to continual learning, adaptability, and co-creating value for the well-being, development, and empowerment of participants.

Horizons of Hope: Refugees’ Well-being & Integration

The alarming surge in CO2 emissions due to wildfires and stubble burnings has reached unprecedented levels. In 2021 alone, 1.76 billion tons of CO2 were emitted, marking a 150% surge compared to the average annual emissions during 2000-2020. This surge not only exacerbates environmental concerns but intensifies socio-economic stress esp. in LDCs. Efforts to suppress wildfires are impeded, urging for sustainable solutions. As such, these emissions jeopardise human health, biodiversity and ecosystems except for contributing to greenhouse effect and climate instability. Moreover, the disproportionate impact on LDCs aggravates existing vulnerabilities, hindering sustainable development progress and perpetuating socio-economic disparities.

To address the conundrum, a community awareness program should be launched first to disseminate the effectiveness and sustainable use of biochar. Secondly, a biochar production network must be developed in collaboration with local farmers, forestry agencies, and environmental organisations through a Public-Private Partnership model. Lastly, community-led biochar production centres should be established to process forestry and agricultural residues, effectively mitigating GHG emissions.

Biochar production centres bring instant benefits by decreasing GHG emissions from forests and farms, improving soil water and nutrient retention for increased crop yields, and boosting households’ income. Over time, these centres expedite climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, enhance productivity and food security, bolster community resilience, eliminate chemical fertilisers, promote sustainable practices, and foster socioeconomic and environmental synergies for sustainable development.

In our quest for emerging ideas, we often overlook the importance of executing existing ones in innovative ways to articulate sustainability, i.e., economic viability, environmental soundness, and social acceptability.
This project focuses on reducing emissions from stubble burning and wildfires by utilising forest debris and stubble to produce biochar. Situating the plant near forests and farms minimises raw material costs and transportation distances. Leveraging local communities also safeguards social inclusivity, making the project eco-friendly and socially profound.

Enviro-Solutions

There is a marked shortage of clean energy investments in developing countries. Energy demand continues to accelerate, especially in Africa and Asia, due to income and population growth. Data availability is a key barrier to clean energy investment in these regions.
We develop an online platform that aggregates country-level data (starting with Africa and Asia) on technical feasibility, the policy and regulatory environment, economic viability, and research, thereby engaging stakeholders to catalyze investment action.

Short-term impact involves de-risking clean energy investments by providing investors with crucial data to make informed decisions. Long-term impact consists of securing wide-scale, sustainable financing for clean energy infrastructure projects (including traditional start-up investment avenues and international private equity options).
Ultimately, we accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy while achieving shared prosperity.

This project challenges an unequal status quo, which sustains power imbalances between developing and developed
countries. The project commits to a just and equal energy transition that leaves no society behind.

GreenEconomix: Minimizing Barriers, Maximizing Impact

Young professionals in the global workforce (20-34 yrs) are most eager to prove themselves resulting in high levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression due to burnout. The symptoms exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and are set to continue in the post pandemic world. The stigma of mental health causes huge gaps in the prevention and treatment of such diseases. In fact, there is the prevalent toxic view that "burnout is an inevitable psrt of success" despite chronic burnout causing 26-35% higher risk of early mortality. One of the consequences on our society ist the global GDP loss of 1T$ due to productivity loss from anxiety and depression.
Icebreakers addresses the above described issues impacting the situation as follows. In the short term, peer-support through buddy system tackles 25% rise in anxiety and depression (pandemic-induced) while addressing 40% prevalence of loneliness in young professionals.
In the long term, celebrating self-care change stories via community meetings demystifies the toxic beliefs about mental health, mitigates stigmatisation, and reduces threshold for seeking care in young professionals.

Icebreakers

GlucoSmart India is a comprehensive diabetes prevention initiative that blends culturally tailored tools with modern digital health solutions. At its core, the project features stainless steel or copper plates engraved with the Plate Method—allocating half of the plate to vegetables, a quarter to proteins, and a quarter to carbohydrates, emphasizing local Indian staples like millets and greens. Additionally, engraved herbal teacups highlight traditional teas known for their glycemic control benefits, such as fenugreek and cinnamon tea.

Beyond physical tools, the project extends its reach through a digital health guide, accessible via the GlucoSmart India app. This app offers personalized meal planning, portion control guidance, nutrition tracking, educational resources, and a supportive WhatsApp community for shared learning and motivation. A QR code on the engraved plates and teacups provides instant access to these resources, ensuring an intuitive and seamless user experience.

The project is grounded in responsible leadership by addressing rural and underserved populations, as evidenced by survey data from Tier 3 and 4 cities in Andhra Pradesh. By integrating traditional dietary wisdom with modern technology, GlucoSmart India fosters a sustainable, scalable, and culturally relevant approach to diabetes management. The initiative empowers individuals with knowledge and tools to make healthier choices, ultimately contributing to long-term improvements in diabetes prevention and management.

GlucoSmart India: Culturally Relevant Diabetes Prevention

A quarter billion children worldwide lack access to education, and only 40% of primary schools have internet access. During COVID-19, 31% of students—over 500 million—were excluded from distance learning, deepening educational inequalities. This lack of access not only traps millions in poverty but also stifles innovation and economic growth. The World Economic Forum estimates that fostering skills like collaboration and problem-solving could unlock $2.54 trillion in global economic growth.

EduCatalyst addresses this urgent challenge by expanding access, developing essential skills, and scaling impact. Our approach:
1. Expanding Access – We equip underserved communities with offline-compatible learning tools, devices, and internet solutions tailored to local needs.
2. Teaching Core Skills – We train teachers and students in empathy, collaboration, creativity, and technological literacy through hands-on, inclusive learning.
3. Amplifying Impact – We connect students to global mentors and peers, transforming ideas into real-world solutions.

EduCatalyst equips local communities with essential education tools and training, enabling them to develop impactful projects. By fostering collaboration, creativity, and leadership, it empowers a new generation of changemakers to tackle global challenges and drive systemic change.

This initiative embodies responsible leadership by embedding empathy, collaboration, and innovation into education. More than just teaching, EduCatalyst unlocks human potential, ensuring every student has the opportunity to create meaningful impact.

EduCatalyst: Transforming Education into Changemaking

EGBE is a transformative initiative designed to address the critical issue of educational inequality in Nigeria, where over 10 million children aged 5-18 are currently out of school. By converting corporate buses into mobile libraries, EGBE aims to deliver educational resources directly to marginalized youth in rural areas, empowering communities and fostering a generation of literate, empowered individuals.

The Challenge

Nigeria faces one of the largest out-of-school populations globally, with rural communities disproportionately affected. The challenges include:

- Limited Access to Resources: Many communities lack basic learning materials such as books, laptops, internet access, and even electricity.

- Geographic Isolation: Rural areas are often disconnected from educational opportunities, perpetuating poverty and inequality.

- Low Literacy Rates: In some regions, literacy rates are as low as 19%, leaving generations without the tools to break out of systemic cycles of disadvantage.

These challenges not only deprive children of their right to education but also hinder economic development, social mobility, and community resilience. Without intervention, the cycle of inequality will continue to widen, leaving millions without hope for a better future.

Why It Matters

Education is a fundamental human right and a key driver of sustainable development. Bridging the educational divide is essential to:

- Reduce poverty and inequality.
- Build empowered and resilient communities.
- Prepare future generations for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
- Achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and unlock opportunities for marginalized populations.

The Actions

EGBE proposes an innovative and scalable approach to tackle these challenges through the following actions:

1. Transforming Corporate Buses into Mobile Libraries

- Repurpose decommissioned corporate buses into fully equipped mobile libraries, bringing education directly to underserved communities.
- Each bus will feature bookshelves, digital learning stations, and a reliable power supply to create an engaging learning environment.

2. Curating and Distributing Educational Resources

- Provide culturally relevant books, laptops, and interactive digital tools tailored to the needs of children aged 3-18.
- Offer materials that support literacy, numeracy, life skills, and environmental education.

3. Train the Trainer (ToT) Program

- Equip local educators and facilitators with the knowledge and skills to sustain and expand the initiative.
- Conduct workshops on digital literacy, creative teaching methods, and community engagement.

4. Strategic Partnerships

- Collaborate with organizations like BookAid and Oxfam to secure resources, funding, and expertise.
- Partner with local governments and businesses to ensure long-term sustainability.

The Impact

In its pilot phase, EGBE aims to achieve the following measurable outcomes within the first year:

- Reach 50,000 Children and Youth (Aged 3-18): Deliver quality education to 100 villages in northwestern Nigeria.
- Distribute 25,000 Books and 1,000 Laptops: Provide immediate access to essential learning tools.
- Train 200 Local Teachers: Build capacity for long-term educational transformation.
- Blend Tech and Non-Tech Resources: Equip youth with life skills, digital training, and environmental education to prepare them for future challenges.

Long-Term Vision

EGBE is not just a project but a movement to transform education in marginalized communities. Over time, the initiative seeks to:

- Reduce the number of out-of-school children by creating accessible learning opportunities.
- Cultivate a generation of literate, empowered youth who can drive social and economic change.
-Strengthen community resilience by fostering access to opportunities that were once out of reach.

Call to Action

EGBE is redefining access to education for marginalized youth. This is an opportunity to invest in a scalable solution that bridges the educational divide and transforms lives. Together, we can empower the next generation of leaders and create a world where every child has the tools to thrive.

EGBE: Empowering Global Bridge Education

The W.H.O. has identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the greatest threats to global health. Regardless of country, increased susceptibility to false claims about health significantly lowers vaccination rates and risks the health of the public. The medical community is currently ill equipped to counter mis/disinformation with their own engaging, modern content. As anti-vax leaders gain positions of power across the globe, we risk our ability to respond to future pandemics and limit their health impact.

To address this challenge, we propose the creation of a coalition called “ViralTruth” that will create engaging, viral content across social media to educate audiences about health misinformation. Governments and nonprofits do have campaigns to address misinformation, but those communications do not regularly reach large audiences. ViralTruth campaigns will aim to debunk and pre-bunk misinformation, using the same tactics that make disinformation go viral. To reach key audiences, the coalition will partner with the medical community, influencers, creatives, and local leaders that audiences we’re targeting have been proven to trust most.

This solution has low technology cost to implement with the potential to quickly reach hundreds of millions of people around the world while supporting communicators and community leaders. Our ideal impact is to increase rates of vaccination and innoculate against generalized healthcare misinformation, not just vaccine skepticism. By creating a centralized and modern approach to prebunking and debunking medical misinformation, we can guide strategy at the local and global level. Local institutions can then take this content and focus on how to target their communities, instead of having to design it themselves. This modernized approach revitalizes how health science communication is designed and delivered to the public. Instead of dated infographics and overly technical content, we can create engaging, memetic information that improves our collective health and well-being.

ViralTruth: Fighting Vaccine Misinformation

The challenge we aim to address is the persistent inequality in access to HIV prevention and care, particularly among underserved and marginalized populations such as rural women, sex workers, and men who have sex with men. Limited healthcare infrastructure, workforce shortages, stigma, and financial barriers significantly hinder progress toward ending the HIV epidemic. This matters because these barriers lead to late diagnoses, increased transmission rates, and preventable deaths, perpetuating cycles of inequality and poor health outcomes.

Our proposed actions include deploying mobile health hubs equipped to deliver HIV prevention, testing, and treatment in remote and high-risk areas. These modular clinics, powered by renewable energy, will provide integrated services, such as maternal health and primary care, to reduce stigma and normalize HIV discussions. To address workforce shortages, we will train local healthcare workers and peer educators to deliver culturally sensitive and community-tailored HIV services.

Additionally, we will implement data-driven resource allocation using geospatial mapping and electronic health records to identify underserved populations and optimize care. By collaborating with local governments, NGOs, and private organizations, we will leverage resources and expertise to scale solutions. Awareness campaigns, including interactive media and storytelling, will encourage testing and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

These actions will lead to a significant impact: improved access to HIV services, reduced transmission rates, and earlier diagnosis and treatment. By addressing stigma and empowering communities, we aim to foster trust and increase service utilization. Long-term sustainability will be achieved by integrating HIV care into broader health programs and training local leaders to maintain services. Our initiative supports global HIV strategies and sustainable development goals, ultimately working toward health equity and systemic change in healthcare access.

Hope on Wheels: Mobile HIV Prevention and Treatment Hubs

The project "Seeds to Success: Agribusiness through Quality Education: Empowering Young Women in Malawi" seeks to address critical challenges within Malawi's agricultural sector, which contributes approximately 42% of the nation's GDP and 81% of its export earnings. Despite over 80% of the workforce being engaged in agriculture, productivity remains among the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa, with smallholder farms achieving less than 30% of their potential yield. The project identifies three primary issues: insufficient practical education, underproductive smallholder farmers, and a lack of interest in agriculture among young people, particularly young women.

Firsty a significant number of young women in Malawi lack practical training, thereby impeding their ability to contribute effectively to agricultural advancement. Secondly, four out of five Malawians are smallholder farmers who encounter challenges such as suboptimal agricultural practices and limited access to agri-financing services. Thirdly, the education system fails to connect agricultural training with profitable career opportunities, resulting in a disinterest in agriculture.

To address these challenges, the project proposes three key actions:

- Agricultural Education, Training, and Launchpad: The establishment of a live-in training center where young women can acquire skills in leadership development, technical agriculture, finance, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship. This comprehensive training aims to increase the number of individuals with relevant skills for financial success, thereby fostering a new generation of successful agricultural leaders and entrepreneurs. This initiative aligns with SDG 4.4, ensuring equal access to affordable technical, vocational, and higher education.

- Smallholder Farmer Empowerment Program: Provision of training and resources to smallholder farmers through a "seed-to-sales" program, which includes agricultural extension services, financing, and market access. This program aims to create profitable farming businesses and eliminate educational discrimination, particularly in rural areas, aligning with SDG 4.5.

- Community Outreach Expansion: Enhancement of outreach efforts to engage with local farmers, assess their needs, and provide targeted support.

The impacts of the project include improved productivity and income for young women, increased engagement in agriculture, enhanced food security, and a reduced gender gap. By adopting a holistic approach that addresses multiple layers of the problem, the project aspires to cultivate a new generation of empowered, financially educated, and well-trained young women in agriculture.

SEEDS TO SUCCESS

The schools in India have enjoyed rich traditions in the ancient history of education. The Vedic-age “Gurukul” (schools) that opened their doors for admission to all strata of society, followed a structured curriculum in the teaching of religion, scriptures, philosophy, literature, warfare, medicine, astrology and gave importance to activities like yoga, meditation, mantra chanting and art that generated positivity.

Today, the schools in rural India are found struggling, with faculty inefficiencies, lack of infrastructure, and absence of value-based and holistic learning. 500 million people aged 15 to 24 years in India are enrolled in secondary, higher education, yet the literacy rate is only 69.3%. Lack of quality education in India has led to poor outcomes in the economy, politics, social well-being and the markets. While school enrolment rates are significant, there is a gap in digital literacy.
 The present project reviews the current status of schools in rural India by drawing a national picture substantiated with field observations and interviews [1] in the rural villages of Uttar Pradesh, India in order to examine the realities on the ground and to develop an understanding of the different contexts in which rural schools function.
 Through our project, Gurukul on Wheels (GROW), we aim to solve this prevalent and massive problem of education inequality worldwide. GROW is a distributed network of mobile classrooms with interdisciplinary expert teachers travelling across the country, to increasingly dissolve the urban-rural divide and fostering unity among students, while promoting cross-cultural learning.

Our project offers 3 prominent features:
1. Firstly,
Our diverse experienced gurus (teacher) offer multidisciplinary, holistic education through specialised masterclasses and elective courses.  
2. Secondly,
Inspired by the ancient Indian Gurukul system, we prioritise experiential learning both indoors but also outdoors in nature. Practical teachings take precedence over theoretical concepts, with ethical values, a strong moral foundation and the art of living.

3. Third:
Our mobile classrooms utilise solar-powered Vehicles, bringing electricity to remote corners on earth. Equipped with wifi, e-learning tools, and AI-gamification.

Reference:
[1] Mr. Pratham Singh (Professional cricketer and Founder of ASP Vidyapeeth, a non profit educational institution in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India) in discussion with the authors at New Delhi, India, December, 2023.

GURUKUL ON WHEELS (GROW): Digital Education Vehicles

According to the IEA report (2022), the transportation subsector is on the path of contributing about 90% of carbon emissions by the year 2070. Our project, tackling climate change by building reliance on public transport systems, is dedicated to confronting this challenge head-on. We recognize the critical decision individuals face between residing close to essential amenities and enduring lengthy commutes, often reliant on private transportation methods. This situation increases inequality and social costs, highlighting the urgency for effective public transport systems.

Our initiative aims to build trust and engagement in public transport, particularly in emerging cities like Accra, Ghana, where existing services often fail to meet the needs of regular commuters. Through the development of an open-source GPS-based application, we seek to revolutionize the reliability of public transport by seamlessly integrating real-time scheduling information and flexible routing options into the existing infrastructure. By empowering commuters with tools to anticipate arrivals and enjoy bespoke services, we aim to enhance the overall user experience and encourage a shift away from private vehicle reliance.

The core features of our app include gamification elements, strategic campaigns, and robust community engagement strategies to foster a sense of ownership and participation among users. In the short term, we anticipate immediate benefits for commuters, such as improved time management, increased convenience, and reduced stress associated with public transit.

Looking ahead, the long-term impacts of our project will include societal and environmental advantages. By leveraging data-driven insights, regulatory bodies can formulate targeted interventions to bolster PT infrastructure in high-traffic areas, thereby mitigating climate change effects. Ultimately, our vision is to catalyze a change in thinking towards sustainable urban mobility as a contributory measure to achieving SDG 13 –taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.

Tackling Climate Change by Building Reliance in Public Trans

The Challenge? Why does it matter?

One-third of all food produced globally is wasted, with a staggering 44% of total waste comprising food, of which 66% is compostable. This alarming trend stems from various factors, including the significant contribution of food waste to methane production, accounting for half of the world's methane emissions. Moreover, one in three people worldwide suffers from food insecurity, exacerbating social inequalities and humanitarian crises. Additionally, food waste exacerbates soil infertility and health issues while contributing to water scarcity and carbon emissions, particularly through scope 3 carbon issues. Furthermore, the presence of plastics mixed with food debris poses a significant challenge, as it cannot be efficiently recycled, further compounding environmental degradation. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires holistic approaches that integrate sustainable practices throughout the food system, from production to consumption, to mitigate waste and its multifaceted impacts.

Actions & Impact?

ACTIONS: Individuals can contribute by segregating waste and learning composting techniques, reducing the amount of organic material that ends up in landfills. Corporations can play a role by developing viable composting equipment to manage organic waste efficiently. Restaurants can repurpose leftover food to minimize waste. Communities can establish composting zones and community gardens to further composting efforts locally. Governments can implement policies to limit the collection of wet waste through circular economy initiatives. NGOs and governments can collaborate to supply excess compost to farmers, supporting sustainable agriculture. Technology can aid in waste management with innovations like smart trash bins that utilize carbon credits to incentivize proper disposal practices. Together, these actions can significantly reduce food waste and its environmental impact.

IMPACT: Efforts to reduce food waste offer a multitude of benefits across various sectors. By diverting organic waste from landfills, we can mitigate methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, by up to 63%, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation. Additionally, redistributing surplus food helps alleviate hunger and poverty by overcoming food shortages. Initiatives promoting community gardening foster social engagement, while providing organic produce enhances health and well-being. Moreover, composting enriches soil fertility, reducing production costs in agriculture. Efficient recycling methods for other waste streams further minimize environmental impact. Additionally, embracing carbon-negative practices can earn carbon credits, incentivizing sustainable waste management and supporting broader environmental conservation efforts.

Love Food, Hate Waste!

NutriLink is a groundbreaking project committed to tackling the urgent challenge of nutrition disparities on a global scale. In a world where access to vital nutrition information is uneven, we've designed a comprehensive one-stop platform. The core challenge we address is the stark inequality in nutrition awareness and healthy practices, especially within marginalized communities. People with limited access to nutrition education face higher health risks, perpetuating cycles of undernutrition and poor health.

Our approach involves strategic community empowerment initiatives and a tech-enhanced platform. By collaborating with donor agencies and local governments, we aim to elevate living standards and actively engage 100,000 individuals in community nutrition initiatives. The NutriLink app serves as a Nutrition Knowledge Hub, providing essential insights to empower individuals in making informed dietary choices. Through gamification, we incentivize users to accumulate points for purchasing healthy food, with earned points contributing to charitable donations.

The potential impact of NutriLink is significant. In the short term, we foresee the active involvement of 100,000 individuals in community-based nutrition initiatives, leading to enhanced nutrition awareness among 10,000 marginalized individuals. The long-term goal is to cultivate a culture of well-being, resulting in sustained behavioral changes and contributing to increased lifespans, ultimately reducing undernutrition threats.

NutriLink represents responsible leadership in action, upholding values of accountability, justice, integrity, and humility. Our vision aspires to make nutrition a fundamental right, championing inclusivity and accessibility. By prioritizing evidence-based decision-making and fostering sustainability through community-centered initiatives, NutriLink seeks to create a world where nutrition knowledge is accessible to all, empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. Join us in reshaping the narrative around nutrition and building a healthier, more equitable future.

NutriLink:One-stop platform enabling marginalized population

Create an immersive and interactive experience that allows users to visualize the climate impact of their actions, track their government’s actions in local languages, petition against harmful policies, or talk to experts to understand the implications of these climate actions.

Climate Action Tracker

We propose to address three critical areas within the scope of factors leading to gender inequality via our easy-to-use, multilingual, free app solution-1st - the gender based data gap that has led to the promulgation of gender-biased education resources, 2nd-the accessibility and affordability gap of education by women in war-torn areas, and people with disabilities and 3rd- the gap between skill-set existing amongst these invisible groups within women and job opportunities made available to them.
We envision women as “Right Holders” hence it becomes critical to address and rectify the existing gender data gaps in the curriculum as these perpetuate gender stereotypes amongst women. Second, our vision extends to the recognition of gender-specific skillsets and training that may be required for invisible groups within women (for example women in war-torn areas and women with disabilities) to secure a job of their dreams.
The platform we envision provides training and quality educational resources specifically catering to the needs and interests of each rightholder, with the help of AI-based solutions, formulating a holistic approach of fun-filled games-based training and creating an educational virtual reality that may especially be helpful for women with disabilities (less mobility).
We will also feature invisible women in history who have contributed magnanimously to STEM, politics, literature etc. from all walks of life on our platform as role models to create positive attitudinal changes.
We will be partnering with Coursera, LinkedIn learning and Khan Academy in a bid to provide free access to education We have come up with a subscription-model for our male supporters, the revenue generated thereof will be used to fund operations and support the women in accessing education opportunities in vulnerable situations. Empowering future women leaders with self-confidence, resilience, empathy, and purpose would be the larger impact of our proposal.

Empower Women to Education and Jobs

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