Innovation Challenge a huge success!

On March 10 and 11, 60 youth from across Calgary came together to solve social issues using technology at the Mayor’s Youth Council second annual Innovation Challenge.

Students formed teams of 2-5 and were asked to come up with a business model that would improve the city of Calgary for youth. Social issues that guided teams included: active living, immigrants and refugees, youth poverty, education and mental health.

At the end of the weekend, teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. Team “Agora” took home the winning prize of $500 for their invention of a crowdsourcing campaign that addressed youth empowerment in politics.

“Youth in our society are underrepresented, through Agora, we offer problems based solutions to lobbying social issues in our society,” says Karl Buhler, one of three Agora team members. “The idea surrounds youth committing time and resources to a campaign for lobbyism on key issues which then gets enacted throughout the city.”

Overall, the two-day event was a great success that allowed students to gain experience using different technologies, all with the purpose of providing solutions and giving back to Calgary communities.

Youth Central would like to thank its sponsors and partners, the TELUS Calgary Community Board, TWT Group Inc, Startup Calgary, Calgary Technologies Inc, and the City of Calgary.