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ITU Telecom World 2015 Young Innovators Competition
announces two winners of its Conflict Challenge
Winners highlight innovative ICTs to keep people safe in conflict zones
Geneva, 9 July 2015 – ITU has announced the two winners of
the second
ITU Telecom World Young Innovators Competition challenge,
the Conflict Challenge.
They will take part in ITU Telecom World 2015, taking place 12-15 October in
Budapest, Hungary. The two winners, selected from 121 applications from 56
countries for their demonstrated innovation, business potential and a clear
social value proposition in tackling the Challenge, are:
- Glorypearl Dy from the
Philippines. Her entry,
Switotwins
is a creative collaborative space that aims to provide a venue
for young people to showcase their creativity as artists and
aspiring artists. It aims to initiate a set of activities for
children to learn more about issues of peace and conflict and
express their feelings about the issues through digital media,
using their own voice through digital storytelling. Many young
people still choose to engage in constructive initiatives that
promote mediation, intercultural communication, conflict
transformation and peace work projects.
- Terrina
Govender from South Africa. Her entry,
Data = Life
is a software platform that allows users in conflict regions to
use SMS and IVR to communicate critical information to both
international aid organizations as well as the private sector.
This information could include location data, food supply
shortages, medical supplies etc. The ability to accurately
assess the needs and requirements in a conflict zone is
invaluable and would assist in reconciling supply and demand of
commodities.
“Armed conflict has a devastating impact on society in the short, medium and
long term, resulting in immense human suffering from loss of life and property
and destruction of infrastructure,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.
“ICTs can make many positive contributions in conflict situations to help
mitigate the damage, such as restoring communications or improving efficacy of
healthcare and emergency responses.” He added that he was delighted to see how
entrepreneurs, such as these competition winners, are harnessing the potential
of ICTs to help make lives safer in these very difficult circumstances.
Asked about the origins of her project, Glorypearl said, “I was led to
believe at school and through media that war could be the solution to threats to
the nation. But that changed when my family moved to Mindanao in southern
Philippines and I listened to the survivors of conflict. Children in these
communities are talented individuals who deserve a future without fear and
anxiety. Their voices can be heard far and wide through digital storytelling,
giving young survivors the confidence to engage in constructive conflict
resolution initiatives.”
“I believe in the power of technology to create social change. We are in a
time in the world when we have technology proliferating to all parts of the
world and social classes,” said Terrina, “This kind of access opens up
opportunities to help create more effective and targeted aid programmes.
Providing precise and current information to those who are looking to help in
times of disaster and conflict will hopefully save many lives.”
The two winners will receive seed funding, as well as networking, showcasing
and pitching opportunities with potential investors at ITU Telecom World 2015,
the global platform to accelerate ICT innovations for social and economic
development. It is where policy makers and regulators meet industry experts,
investors, SMEs, entrepreneurs and innovators to exhibit solutions, share
knowledge and speed change.
The Young Innovators Competition is an integral part of ITU Telecom World
events and seeks gifted young entrepreneurs with ideas for innovative social
enterprises, in response to a series of development challenges.
For full details on ITU Telecom World 2015, click
here
The Young Innovators competition is hosted on
http://ideas.itu.int, powered by the Young Innovators
Competition’s crowdsourcing partner, Crowdicity.
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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