The Amplify Grant, generously sponsored by Ciena, provides students participating in the 2026 YouthMADE Festival with $500 to help them expand or amplify their projects.
Members of Digital Promise staff and a global panel of middle and high school students reviewed over 160 applications, identifying 27 applicants for a 2026 YouthMADE Festival Amplify Grant.
Congratulations to all of the recipients for their stand-out applications and meaningful projects in their communities. Learn more about each recipient below:
Student Names: Barjish A., Rudana
Location: International School Saidpur, Saidpur, Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh
“We are a team of secondary and higher secondary students from Gaibandha who have designed a circular model: we will collect garment fabric waste from factories, bring it to our community, and train low-income women from Fulchori’s char settlements to manufacture reusable sanitary pads.” – Barjish A.
Student Name: Ata Ullah
Location: Ukiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
“NextGen Rohingya Network (NGRN) is a youth-led initiative in Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh, the world’s largest refugee settlement. I founded NGRN in 2023 to teach digital literacy and leadership skills to young Rohingya refugees who have no access to formal education.” – Ata Ullah
Student Name: Ava A.
Location: Cantonment Public School And College, Rangpur, Bangladesh
“Nirbhoya, meaning ‘fearless’ in Bengali, is a student-developed bilingual (Bangla + English) HealthTech mobile application serving as a one-stop platform for menstrual, reproductive, and mental health care, specially tailored for Bangladeshi women. Our team has developed a complete UI/UX prototype, and we are proposing to develop it into a fully functional application to serve women nationwide.” – Ava A.
Student names: Luísa D.P., Manuela M. da S.
Location: Military College of Manaus, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
“In Brazil, 99% of autochthonous malaria cases are concentrated in the Amazon region, particularly in the Metropolitan Region of Manaus (MRM), where the disease is endemic. We present the Vivax Project, a low-cost artificial intelligence (AI) system for predicting the monthly occurrence of malaria in municipalities in the MRM, based on epidemiological and hydrological data.” – Luísa D.P.
Student names: Juan V., Sofía Q., Valentina Q., Daniel S., Laurel M.
Location: Gimnasio Kaiporé, Bogotá, Colombia
“Echo Foodprint is a student-led STEM initiative that transforms school cafeterias into living laboratories for sustainability. The project integrates AI, environmental science, and community engagement to measure, visualize, and reduce food waste in real time. Using an AI-based application, students analyze images of leftover food on plates to estimate waste percentages and calculate the associated carbon footprint. This data is complemented by a composting system that converts organic waste into usable resources and an awareness campaign designed to promote responsible consumption habits within the school community.” – Cesar Augusto Mendoza Castro, educator
Students working together with a teacher at Gimnasio Kapore
Student names: Zakaria Coulibaly, Bamba Adama
Location: Groupe ITA, Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire
“CyberSmart Africa is a student-led initiative aimed at educating young people about cybersecurity and safe digital practices. The project includes creating educational content, hosting practical workshops, and developing beginner-friendly learning materials focused on topics such as password security, phishing awareness, and basic network protection.” – Zakaria Coulibaly
Student names: Salomon M., Trésor M., Taylor L., Moïse M., Victor K.
Location: Institut Pédagogique de Nganza, Commune de Kananga, Ville de Kananga, Province du Kasaï Central en République Démocratique du Congo
“Amplifier les Voix Silencieuses est une initiative portée par des jeunes visant à donner une plateforme d’expression aux personnes sourdes et malentendantes de Kananga. À travers la création de contenus vidéos en langue des signes, des ateliers de sensibilisation et des activités communautaires, le projet met en lumière les réalités, les talents et les défis de cette communauté souvent marginalisée.” – Salomon M.
English translation: “Amplifying Silent Voices is a youth-led initiative aimed at providing a platform for self-expression to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in Kananga. Through the creation of sign language video content, awareness-raising workshops, and community activities, the project shines a light on the realities, talents, and challenges of this often-marginalized community.” – Salomon M.
Student name: Inares Kenne Tsangue
Location: Ashesi University, Berekuso, Eastern Region, Ghana
“The EmpowerHer & Green Future Initiative is a student-led project under Youths4Change that addresses two pressing global challenges: menstrual health stigma and environmental sustainability.
The EmpowerHer component focuses on educating girls in underserved schools about menstrual hygiene, distributing sanitary pads, and engaging boys and parents to foster understanding and reduce stigma. The Green Future component complements this effort by organizing tree-planting campaigns and climate education sessions to empower young people to take action against climate change.” – Inares Kenne Tsangue
Youths4Change collage of photos from their outreach activities
Student name: Amairah S.
Location: Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
“Children in government schools and NGO communities often lack access to basic financial education, which makes them underprepared and vulnerable to long-term economic instability. Therefore, I founded FinBridge—a student-led, social initiative designed to bridge the financial literacy gap that exists between government school/NGO children and the practical financial concepts they’re rarely exposed to, using an interactive, QR-enabled, and bilingual (both English and Hindi) booklet that makes learning simple and engaging.” – Amairah S.
Student names: Ayush Mohapatra
Location:Ayush Art Foundation, Puri, Odisha, India
“Project Indradhanu is a youth-led initiative by Ayush Art Foundation that uses art as a tool to educate, empower, and inspire children. The project focuses on providing creative learning opportunities to children in schools, rural communities, and child care institutions, where access to art education is often limited.” – Ayush Mohapatra
Student names: Harlan F., Agnes A., Naura H., Elang P.
Location:LEAP English and Digital, Surabaya, Indonesia
“Mie Ayam Society (Chicken Noodle Soup Society) is a project created by students to help young people connect with each other through simple conversations. This project is part of LeapXperience Batch 4, which focuses on SDG 16, addressing bullying and children’s rights through community-based solutions. The idea started when we realized that many students around us sometimes feel lonely, stressed, or unsure who to talk to. We wanted to find a simple way to help people feel less alone.” – Mieke Puspita, teacher
Students at LEAP English and Digital sharing their projects during their YouthMADE Festival showcase
Student names: Mustika M., Yuda A., Jahidin M., Rifky M.
Location: SMK Negeri 1 Paringin, South Kalimantan, Paringin, Indonesia
“FINGER (Fingerprint Identification for Networked Attendance Record) is a fingerprint-based automated attendance tool developed to address the problem of manual paper-based attendance recording in schools, which is prone to errors and manipulation, such as leaving a note behind. This problem impacts low student attendance at SMK Negeri 1 Paringin, where the initial attendance rate is only around 60%, with daily tardiness and absence rates ranging from 10–20%, which makes it difficult for teachers to monitor quickly and accurately.” – Mustika M.
The FINGER team working together
Student names: Joshua Radula, Venessa Taaka, Daniella Wasike
Location: Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
“Ishara is a 100% software-based AI engine that instantly transforms live speech and text into high-fidelity Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) animations. Our purpose is to eliminate ‘Systemic Communication Seclusion’ for the 600,000+ deaf citizens in Kenya who are currently excluded from essential services due to the high cost and scarcity of human interpreters.” – Joshua Radula
Student names: Pascifica O., Cundy S.
Location: Kaimosi Girls High School, Vihiga, Kenya
“Orbital AI Shield is an AI-driven space science system designed to protect and optimize satellite operations in Earth’s orbit. It combines machine learning, space environment sensing, and real-time orbital data analysis to monitor space conditions, detect anomalies, and safeguard satellites from both natural and artificial threats such as space debris, radiation, and signal interference.” – Pascifica O.
Student names: Luc Dominic Freddy, Arif Danial, Hayden Abigail, Ivan Russel, Abrane Isaac, Jaydrio Julai, Putri Nurazween, Alya Alfiyyah, Fatin Dhiya, R’ Vyn Dylann, Haiman Aqil, Rafif Ulwan, Shahidin Safaruddin, Dexter Elvin, Elvin Therry, Gavrie Gordy, Mclarend Denis, Arash Iqram, Hasniati Ridwan, Abel Rafael, Owen Hansen, Onney Jarred, Chesper Lawrencius.
Location: Keningau Vocational College, Sabah, Malaysia
“Volt Prihatin is a community-based project conducted by electrical technology students that provides free-of-charge repair and maintenance on electrical outlets and appliances such as sockets, light bulbs and fans in buildings, namely school buildings, orphanages, residential buildings and houses of worship.” – Luc Dominic Freddy
Student name: Temiloluwa Olajuwon
Location: Summit University, Offa, Kwara State Nigeria
“‘Ọwọ’ is the Yoruba word for hand, and it’s those hands that I refuse to let be silenced. I built Ọwọ-AI because in Nigeria, over 4 million deaf individuals are being left behind by a world that doesn’t build tech for them.
Most AI tools struggle with darker skin tones, but I designed Ọwọ-AI to see differently. By focusing on the geometry of hand movements rather than just pixels, I’ve ensured it works reliably for us in our own environments. Right now, it turns signs into speech in real-time through a simple browser, proving that you don’t need a massive lab or expensive hardware to create inclusion.” – Temiloluwa Olajuwon
Student name: Joy Arokoyo
Location: Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria
“ShadowNode Intelligence Bureau is a student-founded professional intelligence brand built around the discipline of digital tradecraft, or the structured, methodical approach to open-source intelligence (OSINT) used by investigators and intelligence agencies worldwide.” – Joy Arokoyo
Student name: Akhanya L.
Location: Boitumelong Senior Secondary School, Tembisa, South Africa
““My project investigates whether extracts from indigenous South African medicinal plants can protect cells from the kind of damage caused by high blood sugar. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is a serious problem in my community. It damages cells through a process called oxidative stress, where harmful molecules attack and break down the cell membrane. Once the membrane is damaged, the cell stops working and can eventually die. This is how high blood sugar destroys organs like the kidneys, eyes, and nerves over time.” – Akhanya L.
Student name: Kur Malual
Location: Ashesi University, Berekuso, Ghana
“The Digital School Management System (DSMS) is a student-led initiative designed to modernize how schools in South Sudan manage academic and administrative processes. Many schools in the country still rely on manual, paper-based systems to handle student records, attendance, and academic results. These systems are inefficient, prone to data loss, and make it difficult for school administrators and teachers to track student performance effectively over time.” – Kur Malual
Student names: Ziyana I. and Imani A.
Location: Micoud Secondary School, Micoud, Saint Lucia
“Project Green Reach is a school-based project that builds a small vertical farming system using recycled plastic bottles and solar energy. The goal is to grow fresh herbs like shado beni and thyme for the school canteen, while also teaching students about sustainability, science, and agriculture in a fun, hands-on way.” – Ms. Shera Charles, teacher
“Even though I live in Saint Lucia, I really struggle with speaking and understanding Kwéyòl. Sometimes I feel disconnected from the older people in my community because I can’t always follow what they are saying. I’m starting this project to change that. I’m going to use professional audio and video gear to interview 10 elders and record their stories about our folklore, like the tales of Compere Lapin and Compere Tigre. By recording these oral histories, I’ll be forced to listen closely to every word they say. I’m building a digital archive using Book Creator so that other kids who struggle with the language like I do can learn our stories along with me.” – Imani A.
Student names: Sharon Katambala
Location: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
“Moyo AI is an AI-powered digital stethoscope being designed to help detect abnormal heart sounds in patients undergoing cardiac examination. The idea is simple: place the device on a patient’s chest, and within seconds the connected Android app tells you whether the heart sounds normal or abnormal. No specialist needed, no complicated setup.” – Sharon Katambala
Student names: Victoria Okeyi
Location: Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, South Wales, United Kingdom
“Pad a Girl: Amplifying Menstrual Health Awareness and Dignity for Underserved Girls is a student-led initiative designed to address menstrual health inequalities among girls and young women in underserved communities.
The project has been successfully implemented in four secondary schools and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Makurdi and three secondary schools in Kogi state, Nigeria, where access to menstrual products and accurate health information remains limited. These challenges contribute to school absenteeism, stigma, and reduced self-confidence among girls.” – Victoria Okeyi
Student names: Victoria W.
Location: Celebration of Asian American Heritage Foundation (CAAHF), Plano, Texas, USA
“CAAHF Youth is a nonprofit youth organization under the Celebration of Asian American Heritage Foundation (CAAHF). It is dedicated to promoting Asian American history, culture, and values through the power of youth. With a core mission of cultivating leadership, strengthening cultural identity, and serving the community, the organization encourages young people to understand their cultural roots while actively engaging in civic life and becoming responsible, empathetic, and action-oriented citizens.” – Victoria W.
Student names: Mansur A., Abril R.
Location: Frontier STEM School, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
“We are creating a club that is dedicated to expanding awareness of community service opportunities throughout the student body. This club is the first of its kind within our district, as it is student-led and will teach students how to reach out to organizations, coordinate volunteer efforts, and work behind the scenes to support initiatives that benefit the entire school community.” – Mansur A.
Frontier STEM High School students receiving an award through the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program.
Student names: Vivian L.
Location: Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, Texas, USA
“Origami For Good is a student-led initiative that uses origami to spread kindness, creativity, and connection across communities. Through workshops, outreach events, and donations, students create origami with encouraging messages and share them with hospitals, senior centers, schools, and other community spaces.” – Vivian L.
Student names: Alice Z., Jack W., Cindy R.
Location: Kindness Matters Inc., Fremont, California, USA
“StorySketch Workshop is a free program where elementary students (ages 7–13) write their own stories by hand and then use AI to generate illustrations for their picture books.” – Alice Z.
Student names: Catherine N., Evelyn M., Rabecca C., Patience N., Lisimba K., Alias M., Daniel W., Namuchana S., Lubono S., Peter K., Lungowe P., Mwale C., Patrick C., Japhat M., Emily J., Rabecca C., Carol M., Kennedy S., Patience M., Maria M., Josephine M., Priscah K., Simeon B., Rabecca S., Liseli M., Violet M., Matildah N., Phiri M., Sepiso N., Theresah M., Elizabeth K., Gavin M., Maxwell K., Warren K., Shiellar M., Hellen L.
Location: Presentation Catholic Secondary School, Kaoma, Western Province, Zambia
“The Enterprise Classroom is a student-led business initiative designed to bring entrepreneurship education to life inside the classroom.” – Madalitso Mbewe, educator
