Aquatech Company based at Limuru Girls’ High School has emerged the winner of the Social Innovation Relay (SIR) after coming up with a portable “fishpond”, a product that aims to eradicate world hunger through regular fish supply.
According to NCBA Bank Deputy Director Marketing and Group Head of Brands, Jacquie Muhati, there were six student teams selected to participate in the final competition held at the University of Nairobi (UoN) in October themed, “Reimagining the SDG’s” challenged students to come up with ideas that would solve issues highlighted in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals with Aquatech emerging as winners.
“Not only does social innovation solve youth challenges but they are also key to meeting the SDG’s set out by the United Nations. Social innovators are acutely aware of the issues at the ground level and demonstrate impact in more granular detail than the SDGs. They also tackle several issues captured by the SDGs as they understand the interconnectedness of the problems and seek to address them through contextually relevant models,” observed Muhati.
During the competition, Muhati admitted to be in the loop of the great inventions presented alluding that the inventions will in one way or another, transform the nation and propel it to greatness.
The competition initially attracted a total of 1000 teams from different schools across the country, 80 more than those that participated in 2021.
Last year’s winners, NOVA Pioneer Tatu Girls’ School, won the SIR competition after coming up with an application that addresses mental health issues.
The team also scooped the grand prize for their innovation, “Project Yoof” in the 11th JA Africa Company of the Year Competition hosted by JA Mauritius.
This year’s winners will represent the country in the Africa competitions which will take place in Lagos, Nigeria in December this year.
The SIR is a national competition in which high school students are invited to submit their innovative ideas aimed at improving and making an impact in their communities.
The programme also entails comprehensive mentorship sessions by experienced business mentors from organisations such as NCBA Bank.
NCBA has partnered with Junior Achievement Kenya for the past 17 years to promote entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy amongst high school and university students.
The funding for the JA Social Innovation Challenge is part of NCBA’s commitment to support young people acquire financial literacy, develop entrepreneurial skills, and create jobs which make communities more robust.
