The Open Seventeen Summer Challenge: empowering youth to innovate and build skills for a post-COVID world

In line with our mission of helping youth reach their highest potential, we have joined Crowd4SDG to launch the Open Seventeen (O17) Summer Challenge: Innovating for a Sustainable Post-Pandemic World. Participants have the chance to win cash prizes, earn certificates from prestigious universities, receive mentorship, and more.

In collaboration with:

In line with our mission of helping youth reach their highest potential, we have joined Crowd4SDG to launch the Open Seventeen (O17) Summer Challenge: Innovating for a Sustainable Post-Pandemic World. Participants have the chance to win cash prizes, earn certificates from prestigious universities, receive mentorship, and more.

The Open Seventeen program is structured as an online coaching program for youth to develop innovative solutions to the social, environmental, economic, and political consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic – an opportunity they can also leverage as internship experience. Hosted by Crowd4SDG, the program is designed for high school, undergrad, and master students from across the world, and within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

This is an incredible opportunity for students to think creatively, develop entrepreneurial skills, learn how to turn their ideas into reality, and truly have a positive impact on their local communities and the world. Successful applicants will take part in the Open Seventeen entrepreneurial training program during the month of July, and have the chance to win cash prizes, receive a certificate from all host universities (Université de Paris, Université de Genève, NYU, and Tsinghua University), get entrepreneurial training and mentorship, and the earn the chance to pitch their ideas at international conferences.


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For students:

Rewards

Winners of the Open Seventeen Summer Challenge will have the opportunity to participate in online training and mentoring sessions with international experts and coaches to turn their ideas into viable and implementable projects. The program will consist of daily 2h interactive sessions from July 6th to July 31st. (Exact times of the sessions will be communicated to successful applicants).

Once in the program, participants will also have the chance to receive further rewards. 

Weekly: financial and in-kind rewards.

Final Prize: top projects and participants will be selected to receive ongoing support and a chance to participate in future UN and international innovation events. 

All participants will receive a certificate from all host universities (Université de Paris, Université de Genève, NYU, and Tsinghua University) and international organizations, as well as 6ECTS credits from the University of Geneva.

How to participate:

  1. Sign up to Goodwall either online or by downloading the app (available for iOS or Android).
  2. Complete your Goodwall web profile. Include relevant information such as your university, field of study, and graduation date, if applicable.
  3. Pitch an innovative idea on how to tackle the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis and create a positive impact in your local community or the world. You can pitch your idea individually, or as a team of up to 4 others (remember to tag them on the post!). The idea can either be a 60-second “virtual elevator pitch” video or a written post (150 words or less). Learn how to pitch an idea on Goodwall

Your idea should address one of the following challenges:

  1. Frugal Medical Equipment for Covid
  2. Crowdsourcing for Pandemic Research
  3. Post-Pandemic Sustainability

For more detailed information on each of the challenges, click here

  1. Before posting your pitch, be sure to add the keyword “O17 Summer 2020″ to tag it for the competition.
  2. A jury will then evaluate all entries and around 50 winners will be announced after June 10, 2020. For more information on the selection process, click here

Stages:

Before June 10th: Participants will pitch their ideas to the Goodwall community.

July 6th to July 31st: The best entries from the challenge on Goodwall will take part in the online training program.

After July 31st: The best projects and participants from the program will win cash prizes, as well as further coaching the opportunity to pitch their ideas at international conferences. 

Eligibility

In order to participate, you must:

  • Be a high school, undergraduate, or master student.
  • Have a complete profile on Goodwall.

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Christian Eilers
Written By Christian Eilers
is a writer and expert on the topics of education, entrepreneurship, career advice, travel, and culture. On the Goodwall Blog, he covers topics including self-improvement, social impact, college preparation, career development, climate action, and more. Christian is originally from New York City and now resides in Kyiv, Ukraine after living in Warsaw, Poland for the past 4 years. At his desk, you're sure to find Pickwick, his Devon Rex cat, either attacking his fingers as he types or the monitor as the mouse pointer moves around.

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