A Nigerian is one of five winners of the 2024 of the Slingshot Challenge, a global call for youth aged between 13 and 18 to propose solutions to the planet’s environmental problems.
Announced Thursday by the National Geographic Society and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the top submissions will receive $10,000 each and 10 Significant Achievement submissions will receive $1,000 each to advance their projects and continue to explore big ideas.
The submissions include an app to minimize household food waste, a tree-planting robot, and programmes to save a rare bird and the bees.
Chidiebere Anigbogu, from Anambra state, made the top list for creating Terrabox, a STEM kit that empowers children to explore clean and renewable energy through play and creativity.
“We’re thrilled to support these bold, young leaders as they aim to have a positive impact on the environment,” said Deborah Grayson, chief education officer at the National Geographic Society.
“As environmental champions, they teach us how to be positive change makers by bringing fresh perspectives to our communities and creating lasting change for our planet.”
“Terrabox and Urban Pollinators”
The 2024 Slingshot Challenge received 2,134 one-minute video submissions from 87 countries.
Between innovative uses of artificial intelligence and technology to detect and solve environmental problems to pitching community-driven awareness campaigns, the submissions proved that the explorer mindset is alive and well in this next generation of change makers, the organizers said in a statement.
The five award recipients are listed below:
- Mazah: Food Waste Fighting App, Noga Gercsak, Gabrielle Gervacio, Shradha Bista, Riya Zingade, Ishika Meel, Prithika Venkatesh; Switzerland, U.S., Hong Kong: Developed an app that tracks food expiration dates & offers recipes to prevent household food waste.
- TERRABOX, Chidiebere Anigbogu, Nigeria: Created a STEM kit that empowers children to explore clean and renewable energy through play and creativity.
- Semilla de Esperanza (Seed of Hope), Ulises Yael Texta Ponce, Wiliam Artemio Texta Ponce, Diana Paola Ponce Nava, Perla Karina Ponce Gómez, Sasha Enriquez; Mexico: Protects the endangered green macaw through monitoring, reforestation, and community education.
- Trovador, Marta Bernardino, Portugal: Deploys a tree-planting robot to help reforest land devastated by wildfires in the mountains of Portugal.
- Urban Pollinators, Evelyn Pinot, Mexico: Built the first registry of native pollinator plants in Tapachula and created a thriving haven for urban pollinators.
All awardees are invited to participate in National Geographic Society’s annual Explorers Festival in June, at which two additional awards will be announced: the Explorer Connection Award, given to the submission that draws the best connection to the work of a National Geographic Explorer, and the People’s Choice Award, given to the submission that receives the most votes from the general public.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open until May 31, 2024 and can be accessed here.
“A better future starts with empowering the next generation,” said Lara Littlefield, executive director of partnerships and programs at the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
“The Slingshot Challenge represents our belief that youth are the key to unlocking new opportunities in conservation. We are confident that a global community of changemakers can stare down and conquer the environmental challenges that define our times.”
The award is in its second year.
Learn more
Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest to enhance the human experience of arts & culture, centre under-served populations, and mobilize young people to make an impact.
In addition, the foundation supports a global portfolio of nonprofit partners working across science and technology solutions to protect wildlife, preserve ocean health, and create lasting change. The foundation also funds the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, which works to advance cutting-edge research in all areas of bioscience.
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
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