Earlier this year we launched Microsoft YouthSpark Challenge for Change — a contest that encouraged young people aged 18 to 25 around the world to submit an idea for a social good project designed to spark change in their communities. Today, we are proud to announce this year’s five outstanding grand prize winners, representing India, Mexico, Philippines, and the United States. Among the winners, four countries are represented including two inspiring students from Asia!
Congratulations to Dominic Co and Sathya Narayanan Subramanain! Later this year, they will embark on a volunteer trip to the Amazon to learn about social entrepreneurship, leadership, conservation and rural development issues in the Amazon rainforest. To support turning their ideas into reality, the winners will also receive a $2,500 cash grant, and a Microsoft technology bundle including a Windows Phone 8 and Xbox One.
When it comes to social change, launching entrepreneurial ventures, and coming up with the next generation of big ideas, Microsoft believes that nothing matches the creativity and passion of youth. We’re inspired by the stories from everyone who entered, and we look forward to continuing our mission to inspire and reward young people who have the passion and creativity to make their communities and the world a better place.
Meet the Winners!
Below are highlights of our inspiring winners from India and Philippines. To learn more about all the winners and their projects, visit the Microsoft YouthSpark Challenge for Change website.
Sathya Narayanan Subramanain (Coimbature, Tamil Nadu, India) plans to launch a portal that provides 10 hours of free digital literacy training covering everything from “What Is a Computer?” to basic tutorials on how to use computers in daily life.
“Right now my perspective on digital literacy has been limited to India,” he said. “Going to a place like Ecuador and getting an international vision of how people are struggling in different parts of the world will give me a lot of insights. If everything goes well, I can launch (my work) in a global capacity.”
Dominic Co (Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines) plans to develop an online curriculum to supplement the teaching of literature by famous Filipino authors so the stories come alive and resonate with today’s high school students.
“I am very excited to use my new Windows tablet to do a variety of things for my project Libroko.com. I would choose this hands down over other devices for my use that involves web browsing, emails, and work with MS office,” said Dominic. “The fact that it is lighter and more portable than PC, with comparative functions to a PC, makes it all the more usable when I need to travel and bring my work along with me.”