EcoHeroes Initiative 2022/2023 for Secondary School Students in Africa

For the EcoHeroes Initiative 2022–2023, applications are accepted. The EcoHeroes Initiative uses a co-creation and learner-centered approach to utilize, maximize, and leverage the youth’s high levels of enthusiasm, technological know-how, fortitude, and exploratory spirit in conceptualizing and putting into practice creative local environmental solutions that also address socioeconomic needs in Africa, particularly in their own local communities.
The EcoHeroes Initiative’s edition for 2022–2023 will be centered on sustainable development and built upon three thematic pillars: climate change, sustainable aviation, and sustainable energy. The capacity of the prospective student teams to connect the projects’ ideas on sustainable energy, sustainable aviation, and/or climate change to any themes of socioeconomic development (such as health, education, among others), given #GreenGrowthAfrica’s commitment to developing environmental solutions that also address socioeconomic challenges in Africa, is crucial which provides added advantage

Benefits:

Each selected team will receive:

• Mentorship support from international and local experts as technical advisors to refine and
  help with the implementation of the project through quality mentorship and advisory.
  • (Note: Student teams with innovative project ideas on sustainable aviation may
    have members of staff of Pratt & Whitney – a U.S-based Aviation company as
    Advisors, subject to evaluations)
• Capacity development through critical thinking, hands-on project implementation, online
  webinar presentation and training.
• Up to USD 500 funding for the implementation of project idea for all selected teams. The
  ideas will be innovative projects that connect sustainable energy, sustainable aviation
  and/or climate action with other themes of development and livelihood (such as health,
  poverty, etc). Project ideas that include outdoor activities are strongly encouraged. Note that
  the implementation of the projects should be between 3-6 months.
• Certificate of participation.
• Opportunity to share their projects with other secondary school students across the globe.
• Leverage on the global visibility and publicity of #GreenGrowthAfrica, NAAEE, and Pratt &
  Whitney.
• At the completion of the projects, additional monetary prize will be awarded to the top three
  “EcoHeroes” Clubs with the most innovative and impactful projects to support the operation
  of their club after the completion of their projects sponsored within EcoHeroes Initiative.

Eligibility:

• Applications are welcome from any African country.
• Each secondary school will be represented by a team comprising of at least five (5) students
  and a coordinating teacher (more students and teachers are allowed depending on the
  nature of their project).
• Each team is expected to identify Sustainable Energy; Sustainable Aviation; and Climate
  Change challenges in their local (or global) communities, brainstorm and propose an idea of
  how they could address the challenge or meet the need. Only innovative and inspiring
  project ideas on sustainable energy, sustainable aviation and climate change will be
  considered.

Note that:

• Upon selection and completion of the projects with the support of an Expert Advisor, each
  student team will be required to share the outcome of their project through a local outreach
  which could be to other students in their schools, people in their local communities among
  others. #GreenGrowthAfrica will also organize intercontinental knowledge-sharing webinars
  where the students will share the outcomes of their projects, skills acquired, and lessons
  learnt.
• Upon the completion of the projects and mentorship, each student team will be constituted
  into a school-based environmental club “EcoHeroes” which could admit more students to
  sustain the project and continue to engage on environmental sustainability in the long term.                        The schools will be required to operate and sustain the clubs. While #GreenGrowthAfrica
  will not be responsible for the operation and finance of the clubs, they will provide technical
  support, monthly/quarterly meetings, as well as share possible opportunities with the clubs.
• A plan of activities for operation of the club, “EcoHeroes”, after the completion of the project
  funded within the EcoHeroes Initiative 2022/2023 will be submitted by each school. The plan
  should cover at least three months of club activities. This is crucial as the sustainability of
  the clubs is a major objective of the programme. Note that there is no format for the plan of
  activities, however, it should be clear and understandable in highlighting how the club will
  be operated after the completion of the projects within the EcoHeroes 2022/2023. The
  activities can be zero cost initiatives such as debates, quizzes, games, outreaches, etc.

Application:

• Qualified and interested teams are invited to complete the online application.
• Letter of support: A letter from the school’s management expressing its support for school’s
  team participation in the programme, and the commitment of the school to the operation
  and sustainability of the club, “EcoHeroes” after the completion of project funded within
  EcoHeroes Initiative. The letter should also indicate that the school has/will provide
  electricity access and internet access as well as a projector and camera for quality and short
  video recordings.

Click here to apply