Big ideas, great impact: three young leaders who are changing the world
Education, gender equality, digital skills and climate change. These are the issues tackled by this year’s winners of the One Young World (OYW) Lead2030 challenges supported by Deloitte. On a new scale and ready to make an impact. It’s time.
"I have learned you are never too small to make a difference. You must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up is never an option.” Wise words from Greta Thunberg, who was just 15 years old when she decided to act. In 2018, she launched her first School Strike for Climate outside of the Swedish parliament. She is now the voice of her generation in the fight against climate change, and has inspired a global movement, Fridays for Future. This is the power of young people committed to taking action.
That same year in Sweden, another young woman and her team were imagining the impact they could have through their EdTech startup, imagiLabs. Their idea was to build tools to equip and empower girls and non-binary kids to become technologists. According to studies, only 31 per cent of IT employees are women. imagiLabs seeks to change this, by making sure girls aged 8 to 13 have access to opportunities that prepare them for a digitally driven future.
“We’re looking forward to giving 100,000 girls coding superpowers, so creating and playing with code becomes fun and relevant!”, said Paula Dosza, imagiLabs Co-Founder. Her organisation was one of the two winners of the One Young World Lead2030 challenge for Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG#4) – Quality Education, supported by Deloitte.
“We’re looking forward to giving 100,000 girls coding superpowers, so creating and playing with code becomes fun and relevant!”
Paula Dosza - imagiLabs
Our partnership with One Young World develops young people into leaders who can address global issues. This collaboration is an important component of Deloitte’s social impact initiatives. Deloitte is committed to address the issues of our time and to create better futures for more people.
Developing technology skills is crucial to uplift individuals and communities, particularly in remote communities. LiteHaus International, another Lead2030 SDG#4 challenge winner, is converting end of life digital devices into opportunities for students in rural primary schools in Papua New Guinea. For Founder and CEO Jack Growden, “a quality education can only be a digital education in today’s world, yet millions of students around the world are going without the tools to learn, dream and achieve in the digital age.”
LiteHaus International has established some of the first primary school computer labs in the country. These labs help students develop digital skills.
"Being the winner of the Lead2030 Challenge for SDG#13 is an immeasurable emotion, as it will be a great opportunity to connect with decision makers and show how is possible to mitigate Climate Change through Biotechnology and the circular economy."
Through our WorldClimate strategy, Deloitte is working to drive responsible climate choices within our organisation and beyond – doing our part to help address the climate crisis and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The effects of climate change will be felt most profoundly by young people – their futures are most at stake. We are passionate about investing in young people and their ideas to address this challenge. GREENfluidics from Mexico, Lead2030 challenge winner for SDG#13 – Climate Change, is one such example.
GREENfluidics have developed an Intelligent Solar Biopanel to provide clean energy solutions. “It is an innovative way to mitigate the effects of climate change in the city and improve the lives of millions of people”, says Adan Ramírez Sánchez, Co-founder, and CEO, “by generating energy, cleaning the air and providing an avant-garde design to the facades of buildings, thanks to the use of microalgae and nanotech.”
To achieve our bold WorldImpact commitments, such as expanding opportunities for 100 million people by 2030, and creating a more sustainable world, we strive to empower young leaders and scale new solutions.
As we celebrate these young innovators’ ideas, learn how Deloitte is changing society by browsing through more impactful stories on our WorldImpact page!
