From May 4–17, this year’s YouthMADE Festival curated 16 live events and 64 content submissions from students and teachers worldwide, with more than 600 people registered to celebrate creative and innovative student work.
The YouthMADE Festival Community Awards invite teachers, students, families, and community members around the world to recognize students who presented at the YouthMADE Festival. Join us in celebrating 46 inspiring students from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, St. Lucia, Tanzania, and the United States.
Students: Monjur A., Hafizul M., Barek H. and Mohammed A.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Digital literacy training for Rohingya youth living in Kutupalong refugee camp
Country: Bangladesh
“What I appreciated most about the students and their project was the deep sense of purpose and lived experience behind the work. The students did not learn about digital exclusion from a textbook. They lived it. They grew up in a refugee camp with no school, no teacher, and no hope. Yet, instead of giving up, they taught themselves digital skills using a borrowed phone. Then they turned around and taught others. The project is not a theoretical solution. It is a real, working initiative that has already reached over 100 young refugees. I also appreciated how the project is youth-led and community-based. The student did not wait for permission or funding. They started under a tree with five friends. That kind of initiative and courage is rare. Their work proves that even in the most forgotten places, young people can lead change.” – Ata Ulla, community member
Students: Julia F.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Green Roots Workshop
Country: Canada
“I appreciated their hard work and dedication that went into creating this workshop. They were very effectively communicating with everyone on setting goals and completing work.” – Peter L., community member
Students: Aderajew Zewdu
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Blue Nile GIS Tracker
Country: Ethiopia
“I appreciated Aderajew Zewdu’s strong ability to apply GIS and digital innovation to real community challenges. The Blue Nile GIS Tracker demonstrates clear technical skill, creativity, and a strong understanding of how spatial data can support community awareness and local decision-making. I was especially impressed by his commitment to using technology for social impact and his ability to translate complex data into practical insights for community benefit.” – Adong Collin, mentor
Students: Amairah S.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Finbridge
Country: India
Students: Madhu A., Chinmaya M., Shreya M., Khushi G.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Screen Time vs. Real Time
Country: India
Students: Sachi P., Rithika B.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Lake Water Risk: Understanding the Dangers of Unsafe Lake Water and Promoting Clean, Safe Water for Every Community
Country: India
“Their concern [was] for a real community problem […] to create awareness about safe drinking water. The ‘Lake Water Risk’ project showed teamwork, creativity, responsibility, and a strong desire to bring positive change to their village and school.” – Rukhasana Banu Kaladgi, teacher
Students: Udita L. and Anushka K.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Voices Against Oral Cancer
Country: India
Students: M. Reza M. S., Ahmad H., Syawrizanur A.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: STICK (Smart Assistive Cane for Navigation)
Country: Indonesia
“What I appreciated most is the team’s empathy and focus on social impact by creating a solution for visually impaired individuals. Their project reflects creativity and innovation through the use of assistive technology to enhance mobility and independence. The thoughtful integration of sensors and navigation features shows a meaningful application of technology to improve users’ daily lives.” – Keila M. A., friend
Students: Yuda A., Jahidin, Mustika
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: FINGER (Fingerprint Identification for Networked Attendance Record)
Country: Indonesia
“The success of Project FINGER represents a significant milestone in our digital transformation roadmap. I want to commend the team’s resilience in navigating the complexities of integrating biometric hardware with a dynamic network architecture.” – Rasidi W., friend
Students: Gracious K.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Orbital AI-Space Science Story
Country: Kenya
“What stood out most was the clarity of purpose and the ability of the student(s) to connect space science with real-world problem solving using AI. The project demonstrated strong interdisciplinary thinking, combining astronomy/space concepts with modern computational tools in a way that felt both practical and forward-looking.
I particularly appreciated the structured approach to problem definition, where the challenge was not treated as purely theoretical but linked to observable data and potential applications. The use of AI as an enabling tool—rather than the focus itself—showed maturity in scientific thinking.
Additionally, there was clear evidence of creativity in how the solution was framed, along with an awareness of scalability and future impact. Overall, the project reflected curiosity, technical ambition, and a strong alignment with emerging trends in space technology and intelligent systems.” – Vallary Lumadi, teacher
Students: Catrisya Cymantha Cyril
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Beyond Beauty
Country: Malaysia
“Catrisya, a cosmetology student at Keningau Vocational College, has been very determined to help senior citizens, [who] often receive less attention and grooming treatment due to their age and condition, to feel beautiful, to be cared for, to be heard and to receive grooming treatment namely pedicure, manicure and massages. Other than these, she also led her team to carry out social activities, including line dance, karaoke singalong, and conversation engagement with the senior citizens at an old folks’ home in Sabah, Malaysia.” – Sirhajwan Idek, educator
Students: Iris Sofea Irfin
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Sign & Tell
Country: Malaysia
“Iris Sofea Irfin, an early childhood education student at Keningau Vocational College, seeks to bridge the communication barriers between hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired students by leading a project that introduces and teaches sign language to non-hearing students and staff in which hearing-impaired individuals act as their mentors. She is determined to create an inclusive school environment where everyone can socialize and participate in school activities equally.” – Sirhajwan Idek, educator
Students: Luc Dominic Freddy
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Volt Prihatin
Country: Malaysia
“Luc Dominic Freddy, an electrical technology student at Keningau Vocational College, proactively set up a repair cafe where the public could deliver their malfunctioning household electrical appliances to be examined and repaired by him and the team he led. They provide this service for free and they also welcome the public to take part in the repairing process.” – Sirhajwan Idek, educator
Students: Fortune J., Marcus G., Emmanuel I., Chioma C., Judith F.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Made-In-Aba Solar Lantern
Country: Nigeria
Students: Greatwisdom C. Nwigwe
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Growth Beyond Grades: Helping Students Find Direction and Opportunities
Country: Nigeria
“What I appreciate most about this project is the clarity of purpose behind it and its direct impact on real student challenges. I have watched my twin brother, Greatwisdom, build this from the ground up as a 19-year-old Nigerian student who not only understands the gaps in the system but chose to respond to them with action instead of complaint.
What stands out to me is how he consistently translates ideas into practical solutions that students can actually use. Through The Student Growth Hub, he has supported thousands of students with guidance on CV writing, scholarships, internships, and career development, and also launched a cohort that trains students for the transition from school to the world of work.
Beyond the numbers, I have seen his consistency, empathy, and commitment to helping other students grow. This project reflects not just leadership, but a deep sense of responsibility to create meaningful and scalable impact for young people navigating their future.” – Greatgoodness Nwigwe, sister
Students: Mayar A., Aziza H., Raneem A., Layan B., Dina A., Hind B.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Aqua Smart Functional Dam
Country: Saudi Arabia
“I appreciated how the students connected a real-world problem to a practical solution. In the AquaSmart Dam project, they combined water management, sustainability, and innovation in a clear and thoughtful way. Their work showed strong creativity, problem-solving, and a genuine sense of purpose.” – Nouf Youssef, educator
Students: Imani A.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: L’Héritage Nou
Country: St. Lucia
“In a world that is often marked by prejudice, social bubbles, and growing disconnection, intergenerational exchange is especially important. What I appreciated most about the students and their projects was their commitment to bringing different generations together, creating spaces for dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect. Their work shows how meaningful these connections can be in breaking barriers and building a more inclusive and empathetic society.” – Gabriel Marmentini, community member
Students: Future Up Nations Innovation Team
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Primary Students Launching Offline AI & Digital Library
Country: Tanzania
“As a head teacher of a public school, I see daily the struggle of students lacking digital resources due to high data costs. I deeply appreciate these students at Future Up Nations for creating a scalable, offline model that solves this. Their ‘genesis project’ proves that we don’t need expensive fiber-optic cables to give our children access to AI and global knowledge. They have designed a solution that is perfectly suited for the reality of Tanzanian public schools.” – Issa Mbonde, educator
Students: Elizabeth M. and Makayla P.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Space and Sea Our Final Frontiers
Country: United States
“It has been remarkable to see their transformation from extremely shy students to seeing them present at numerous events, even on TV news! I enjoyed that they work on a project that will assist with future space travel and exploring life on other worlds.” – Jose Gonzalez, educator
Students: Kayla H., Kenleigh B., Mackenzie S. and Destiny J.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: Smart Grow Garden
Country: United States
“I appreciate the students’ flexibility and willingness to work for their community. The ability to become uncomfortable in order to grow.” – Edjohnier Phillips, educator
Students: Victoria W.
YouthMADE Festival content or event name: CAAHF YOUTH
Country: United States
“What I appreciate most about [Victoria] is that she turned something deeply personal into meaningful action for her community. Instead of simply talking about the lack of cultural understanding and representation, she created a platform where young people can take pride in their identity, develop leadership skills, and make a real impact through service and education.
What stands out most is how youth-driven her work is. Victoria didn’t just build events—she built opportunities for other students to lead, volunteer, and share their cultures confidently. Through cultural festivals, Lunar New Year celebrations, library programs, and educational outreach, CAAHF Youth has helped promote cross-cultural understanding while giving Asian American youth a stronger sense of belonging and confidence.” – Zoe Qin, community member
