Celebrating Youth Innovation: Teach the Future & Digital Promise, both Youth-Centric Organizations Leading the Way
- Lisa Giuliani
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
Teach the Future is proud to have partnered with Digital Promise to support the remarkable "Household Appliances Powered by Solar" Sparkwise initiative at SXSW. This collaborative effort highlights our shared commitment to empowering young innovators as they develop solutions for real-world challenges.
A Journey of Recognition
These talented students from Egba Odeda High School Junior in rural Nigeria have received multiple accolades for their work transforming discarded materials into solar-powered household appliances:
First recognized by the Ciena Challenge where they received awards for their innovation
Further acknowledged by the Next Generation Foresight Practitioners Young Voices (NGFP-YV) Awards for their impactful work
Most recently, with support from the Young Voices Council, their project secured a win at the SXSW EDU Student Challenge
Their success demonstrates how youth innovation, when supported by organizations dedicated to student empowerment, can address critical needs—in this case, unreliable electricity in rural Nigeria—while building valuable STEM skills and environmental awareness.
Join Us at the YouthMADE Festival in May!
Digital Promise is now preparing to host the upcoming YouthMADE Festival from May 5-18, 2025. At Teach the Future, we're enthusiastically supporting these efforts by spreading the word for others to participate in this global celebration of youth creativity and innovation.
The festival celebrates young innovators across multiple domains including art, activism, design, making, and education—providing the perfect platform for the next generation of change-makers.
If you visited our booth during SXSW, you received an invitation to join this exciting event! Haven't connected with us yet? Students can apply for $500 Amplify Grants to expand their innovative projects, and everyone can experience the incredible creativity of young minds worldwide.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Digital Promise for their continued commitment to youth innovation, creating meaningful opportunities for students to develop solutions for a better future.
Visit youthmade.org to learn more and sign up for festival updates!
Join Teach the Future's FutureWise Young Voices 6 week Summer Program starts end of June!
What Youth Will Gain
An established global network of fellow change-makers
Confidence in their ability to lead meaningful community-oriented initiatives
A proven blueprint for creating actionable projects:
Use social change principles to turn initial ideas into community-focused initiatives
Apply systems thinking to map project interconnections and effects
Develop leadership skills and inspire others with their vision
Explore current context within their topic area
Evaluate likely outcomes of their current project plan
Imagine different possible directions beyond the obvious path
Create strategic plans aligning resources, timelines, and goals
Take concrete action while tracking progress and adapting based on learning
Use discount code: WFDYV25 or SXSWEDU25 for $50 off registration
Limited spots available - secure your place in this exclusive opportunity!