MASK Awards 2024

ENTRIES & WINNERS

ARCHITECTURE

We asked participants to design an inspirational building for the 'School of the Future', a possible future home for MASK Create in Nairobi. More details about the brief here. The last year's entries in this category can be seen here.

SHORTLISTED schools

SHORTLISTED innovators 

#1 challenge: Reduce poverty

Sara Nazeri, 18, Iran

1. Address class disparities and inequalities
2. Reduce economic and social gaps
3. Put in place equal opportunities for education, healthcare, and employment
4. Establish supportive mechanisms and providing resources for vulnerable groups

These measures can enhances individuals' skills and capabilities on a broader scale. As a result, human potential is fully realized, leading to sustainable growth and equal opportunities globally.

Amahle Sithebe, 14, South Africa

Use agriculture to transform lives and reduce poverty in disadvantaged communities. Implementation steps:

• Establish educational centers and farms to teach youth agricultural skills and provide hands-on experience.

• Leverage technology to enhance planting, harvesting, resource management, and poultry production to meet rising egg demand.

• Provide training and address initial investment costs for adopting new agricultural technologies.

Kitui Harrison Meshak Kitui, 23, Kenya

Onderwys Chain Link. Onderwysis an Africaan word meaning education. Onderwys Chain Link functions by targeting innovative learners from schools and links them to investors/sources which can assist in completing and monetizing the projects. In turn, the project creates employment and gets to enable innovations from a student each subsequent year.

School e-register. This system uses AI and biometric technology to collect and store real time statistical data of learners and their trainees/teachers. This means that school administrations can easily account for the presence of teachers and learners through learning sessions.

Danielle Wijenje, 23, Kenya

Toto Safaris. TotoSafaris is a transport app tailored to safely transport unaccompanied children and teens using well trained drivers. My vision is to lead globally in child-centric transport, fostering trust and confidence in every ride. This will reduce poverty by providing employment as a service provider.

Sondos Abdulaziz, 14, Saudi Arabia

Starting With The Young. Poverty can be combated through a shift in the world's environment, starting with the education system. Poverty cycle can be broken by providing high-quality education that's not just academic but also relevant to the job market. Providing free education, both online and in-person, is crucial for significant change in generations.

Pedro Lorena, 19, Brazil

Youth empowerment and international participation. In 2023, we impacted more than 150,000 young people from 30 countries. At the MERCOSUR RAADH, we approved the creation of Specialized Police Stations for Crimes Against Children and Adolescents in Latin America. With more than 300 members from 30 countries, our various fronts of action promote social impact and youth participation.

Quynh Nhu Nguyen, 18, Vietnam

Solutions to poverty. Both the government and individuals need to work together to reduce poverty and improve living standards.

1. Government Action: Reduce unnecessary taxes and ensure everyone has access to essentials like housing, education, and healthcare.
2. Citizen Action: Treat everyone fairly regardless of their background, work hard, contribute to the economy, and help others improve their lives.

Karolina Grigoryans, 17, China

• Offer small loans and comprehensive support including business training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
• Provide access to markets and financial literacy programs to help women manage their businesses effectively.
• Empower women to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality by creating sustainable businesses and fostering community development.

Murari Ambati, 14, USA

Unlocking human potential means helping people reach their best by giving them good education, healthcare, and job opportunities. This involves:

• Provide good education and healthcare
• Invest in skills training and create job opportunities, including supporting new businesses.
• Ensure access to clean water and address unfair systems that limit people’s chances.

Jamir Rabby, 16, Australia

CoopGrow is a program fostering agricultural cooperative growth through tailored training, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development. By equipping members with skills in sustainable farming, financial literacy, and marketing, it empowers communities to improve livelihoods, enhance food security, and prevent poverty.

EquiFund provides fixed benefits to all, regardless of wealth or job status, removing welfare traps. Earned wages supplement rather than replace it. UBI ensures a stable income preventing poverty. Though championed since the 18th century, it remains largely hypothetical due to lack of implementation.

SAMURIA LEAH, 17, Kakenya Girls High School, Kenya

Recycling the waste plastic straws to make affordable decors that can be used to furnish houses and events. Collecting used plastic straws from the environment creates a clean and healthy environment. The decors made from these straws can be sold at a reasonable price to generate income hence reduce poverty.

#2 challenge: Create your own job

Trang Le Linh Pham, 25, Vietnam 

‘Perfect House. Tour Guide in the Jungle’ is a 3D map of a house in the jungle, designed to set some types of games to train living skills.

Keerthana Raveendra, 16, India

Introducing clearEST, the customized helmet visor designed for riders with vision problems. Integrating eye-powered technology and advanced anti-fogging, anti-scratch, and anti-glare coatings, clearEST ensures clear vision and safety. Targeting long-distance riders, each unit is priced at SGD 170, providing comfort and reliability for a seamless riding experience.

Akshara Dalan, 14, India -

Social Media Vigilant. To prevent cyberbullying among students, the creation of a Social Media Vigilance Officer in schools would be effective. This job would ensure that the influx of confessions and meme pages in school can be regulated to ensure a healthy school environment and that social media age requirements are being met.

Thanusiya Thanu, 15, Malaysia

Sustainable Urban Farming Architect. My urban farms use vertical farming integrated with hydroponics and renewable energy to provide fresh produce, reduce carbon footprints, and create green spaces in cities, thereby promoting food security and environmental sustainability.

David Odhiambo, 20, Kenya

CAMPUS GLIDE: "Smart Campus Transport". Campus Glide offers electric scooters for university students to travel quickly and efficiently across large campuses, integrated with M-Pesa for easy payments. Students enter their transaction ID to activate a scooter for 20 minutes. This eco-friendly solution enhances mobility, saves time, and supports sustainability goals.

Uijin Lee, 17, South Korea

Virtual Reality Therapy. There is rising demand for therapies globally, so introduction of VR therapy will not only improve the range of options that patients choose to take, but also easier access to higher quality of therapy. Treatments available for: depression, trauma, insomnia, or any other non-genetic mental disorder. Therapists working in the business are neuroscience specialists and have good understanding of VR technologies. Patients must visit office for therapies, but if patients own a VR in their accommodation, the therapy can be done online.

Simon Wandera, 23, Kenya

Agrobiashara. Agrobiashara is a cool website that changes how farmers sell their products by connecting them directly with buyers. It makes buying and selling easier and more transparent. Farmers can show their products online, set prices, and handle orders all in one place. This helps them reach more buyers, from local shops to global markets, and get better prices without middlemen. Buyers get access to a variety of fresh products and clear pricing. The site also offers helpful resources and training for farmers to grow their businesses and stay sustainable. Check it out at https://agrobiashara.netlify.app.

Khyathi Meenan S, 13, Bell & Bennett High School, India

Problem: is the unavailability of personnel to replace saline solutions for patients during night hours, leading to potential health risks and inconvenience. Solution: creating an automated saline replenishment system that operates autonomously during night times, utilizing an ultrasonic sensor, relay, buzzer, pump motor, and Arduino. It ensures the continuous and autonomous replenishment of saline solutions, reducing the dependency on human intervention and enhancing patient safety and care.

Tabassum Shaikh, 20, India

AI integrated map. This map app helps people in India to understand local languages and gives smart travel tips. It works with public transportation and adjusts to different road and weather conditions, like rain. It also helps with emergencies using local services. Overall, it makes getting around in India easier and safer.

Eunice Muriithi, 25, Kenya

Wabunifu Hub. Kids have the most colourful minds that need to shine brighter as they grow and this is where Wabunifu hub comes in. A community of all creatives who teach and mentor kids inclusive of who are abled differently, then annually the kids’ artwork are set up for exhibitions.

FAITH NYERERE, 17, Kakenya Girls High School, Kenya

To improve the durability of fencing posts, one effective and eco-friendly method is to burn them until a layer of charcoal forms. This charcoal layer makes the posts resistant to decay and prevents ants from eating them, while also being cost-effective.

#3 challenge: Life under water

Fairooz Maliha, 22, Bangladesh

Protecting marine life. To protect life below water we need:

1. Conserve water to reduce runoff & waste water
2. Use non toxic chemicals & disposals of pollutants
3. Minimize waste, especially plastic consequences
4. Use eco-friendly transportation
5. Everyone should do volunteering for community & beach cleanup.

WINNER: INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR 2024: Saksham Dixit, 17, United Arab Emirates

1. Develop Algal Bioreactors is an initiative that deploys floating bioreactors in the ocean to cultivate genetically engineered algae capable of bioremediation, carbon capture, and producing biofuels. These bioreactors will absorb CO2, detoxify polluted waters, and generate renewable energy, transforming ocean health and energy production.
2. Create Marine Acoustic Sanctuaries, an initiative that utilizes advanced sound technology to create quiet zones in the ocean, protecting marine life from noise pollution caused by shipping, drilling, and other human activities. These sanctuaries would use underwater noise barriers and sound dampening technologies to create peaceful habitats, promoting healthier marine ecosystems.
3. Establish Bio-Integrated Ocean Sanctuaries, is a revolutionary project that combines autonomous AI-driven drones, genetically engineered microorganisms, 3D-printed self-healing coral reefs, and nanotechnology to create self-sustaining, adaptive marine ecosystems that clean up pollution, restore biodiversity, generate renewable energy, and monitor environmental health.
4. Develop a Waste-to-Wealth Circular Economy Hubs is an initiative that transforms waste materials into valuable products and services in impoverished communities, using  innovative recycling technologies such as waste-to-energy systems, and community-led waste management programs to create jobs, generate income, and promote environmental sustainability.
5. Create a decentralized Eco-Bio-Tech Smart Villages, which is platforms that transforms impoverished rural/urban communities into innovation hubs by integrating vertical farming, CRISPR biotechnology, renewable energy, and smart technology. Supported by a blockchain-based platform for transparent funding and community engagement, initiative aims to empower communities to achieve self-sufficiency, improved health, and sustainable development.

Ana Oliver, 15, Mexico

To protect our world and ensure a sustainable future, young leaders must rise to the challenge. My solution is to empower high school students to teach at underfunded schools in Mexico, promoting creativity through interactive lectures on environmental awareness, creating art from trash, and composting. This approach aims to raise mindful and innovative citizens, creating a positive impact on the world.

Noor Alyafi, 14, Qatar

Implementing Oceanic Drones. Using drones that estimate algorithms in the same way that legal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) do to classify different types of floating trash and allocating it using sensors and nets would clear the ocean of pollution and keep marine animals safe.

Maurice Otieno, 23, Kenya

Establish a global network of underwater drones equipped with sensors to monitor ocean health in real-time, detect pollution hotspots, and enforce marine protected areas. These drones could also be utilized for ocean cleanup efforts and to track and deter illegal fishing activities.

Sayed Md Tousif Yusuf Nafi, 18 Bangladesh

Spread awareness on recycling and reusing to save our environment.

Jafrin Rabby, 14, Australia

Preserving Our Seas. To protect our oceans, we must address multiple fronts, including enforcing laws to reduce pollution, encouraging environmentally friendly behaviors, establishing marine protected zones, and combating overfishing using cutting-edge monitoring technologies. International cooperation is crucial, and ensuring sea conservation for future generations can be achieved through innovation, legislation, collaboration, and education.

Karolina Grigoryans, 17, China

• Use AI-powered drones underwater to collect data on temperature, pollutants, and water quality.
• Analyze this data to identify trends, risks, and illegal activities, and to find and remove pollutants.
• Support marine conservation and resource management by aiding damaged environments and protecting biodiversity.

PHILIP MUTHUI, 22, Kenya

Building water reservoirs in towns to enhance beauty. Allocating land to be used as dumping sites for general waste to reduce pollution. Apartment owners should ensure that there is a proper system for gray and black water from households is properly transported and treated.