https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PQdMstv2w0
Calling all students or young adults who are active in your local community or concerned about national issues! Microsoft’s third annual YouthSpark Challenge for Change is inviting youth aged 13-25 around the world to share their ideas for sparking change in their communities, schools, college campuses, or the world. Microsoft YouthSpark is part of Microsoft’s commitment to create education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people around the world.
The Challenge asks socially conscious young people to consider how Microsoft technology can help them do more and achieve more, and then submit their ideas between now and March 25, 2015. Microsoft will choose 15 finalists from each age group (13-17 and 18-25) to win a Surface Pro 3 with Office 365. Five grand prize winners from each age group will go on to win:
- An amazing leadership development trip to Nicaragua learn about creating change
- $2,500 cash to help turn their ideas into a reality
- A Microsoft Windows Phone
- The opportunity to serve as a Microsoft YouthSpark Advocate for the year
One of last year’s winners, Laura Fulton, a New Jersey native, started a program called Science for Success with the goal of getting young women excited about exploring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). An avid science student herself, she noticed the number of girls in her classes diminishing as she moved through school — and decided to do something about it. Her proposal took her to the winner’s circle and a life-changing trip to Ecuador to learn about how to drive community change.
So if you know a high-school or college student or young graduate who’s got some great ideas about improving graduation rates in New York City schools, or preventing youth suicide across the nation, or solving international diplomatic challenges, or more, point them to the Challenge. Entering is simple: they can just submit their ideas to Microsoft YouthSpark and answer a few questions for a chance to get recognition, funding, and a platform to turn their vision into action.
To learn more about Microsoft’s commitment to youth and education, visit our YouthSpark Hub or follow us on twitter at @msftcitizenship.