New challenge calls on young innovators

Islamabad : A new challenge is calling on young innovators across Pakistan to design solutions that will help improve girls’ knowledge and practice of safe menstrual hygiene, says a press release.

During an event held in Islamabad Thursday, UNICEF and the School of Leadership invited all Pakistani nationals between the ages of 14-24 to come forward with innovative ideas on tools, models and services to enable girls and women to manage their menstruation.

Many adolescent girls in Pakistan miss school every month when on their period because they lack both knowledge, and access to proper facilities or supplies, to manage their menstruation in a hygienic way. Applicants from all over the country have four weeks to come forward. Fifteen shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a three-day design workshop in Islamabad in November.

They will be coached and mentored to develop their solutions, using the Human-Centred Design approach. At the end, the five most promising ideas will be selected, with each young innovator receiving up to USD $ 1,000 and two months of coaching to help her/him implement their project. The five projects will participate in a global competition in 2019, with the winner receiving $20,000 and tailored mentorship support to help her/him scale up the project.

“Young people are some of the best inventors, creators and innovators we can find in the world,” said Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. “We hope that this challenge will encourage Pakistani youth to come up with innovative ideas and help tackle some of the pressing challenges which young people face today, starting with menstrual hygiene for girls.” The Youth Challenge is taking place in 16 countries worldwide, including Pakistan. It is part of a new global and regional partnership, #WeTheFuture / #GenerationUnlimited, launched during the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The goal is to provide every young person with quality education, training or employment by 2030.

Generation Unlimited brings together partners to co-create and support solutions that are proven and have the potential to deliver results at scale, and to develop a platform on which young people can share knowledge, engage and co-create.