COVID-19 has drastically changed the lives of young people living in Africa, where those under 35 make up 75 per cent of the continent's population. From loss of income and job insecurity to stalled education and a lack of clean water, young people and their communities are being forced to explore new and innovative ways of coping.
Nigeria piloted the global challenge in May 2020, inspiring a wave of youth participants elsewhere on the continent. The top youth-produced solutions were recently chosen with different rewards given in the various countries. Some young participants received funding and coaching to support scaling up their ideas; other rewards include Zlto digital points used to redeem UNICEF certificates, airtime and data, mentorships with industry experts, and CV reviews and soft skills training provided by partners.
The top innovative solutions received include: the use of solar panels for sustainable water supply systems in communities without safe water access; digital applications that enable children to continue learning; and online market places to enable continued income generation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I started developing the idea as soon as I saw the problem," said Chukwuma Nwachukwu, 28, from Nigeria, who produced a prototype for a solar-powered water pump to support community handwashing. "I also did some research to understand how this innovation will be beneficial to the community. One thing that really stood out for me is the fact that this solution is reliable. It is cost-effective."