Students Use Design to Create Sustainable Solutions to Global Challenges

This summer, rising eighth and ninth graders learned how social, environmental, and economic problems are manifested across the world, particularly in developing countries. This was used as the basis for identifying entrepreneurial opportunities that could lead to social-economic and environmental impact, change, and empowerment. They also learned about the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). During the five-week program, students engaged with a curriculum developed by Cambio Labs that allowed them to practice empathy, ideation, opportunity identification, prototyping, and presentation skills. 

Setting the framework for how students should be designing and thinking about their problems, the camp began with activities and challenges such as building cantilever structures out of toothpicks and learning how to map an everyday system. Students had an opportunity to hear from experts in the entrepreneurship space, including Trevor Price, Founder of Oxeon Partners and Co-Founder of Town Hall Ventures, and several Prep alumni who have started their own businesses. Visits to companies and organizations like Silver Lake, First Republic and the RETI Center in Gowanus, Brooklyn gave students the opportunity to meet with professionals in the field.

Applying what they learned in their first week, students participated in three week-long design sprints, each one tackling an SDG. The product of each sprint? A prototype or solution with the potential to grow into a real venture that could address some of the world's most pressing social, economic, and environmental issues. Students shared some of these solutions at a travel-themed final presentation event Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5 at LREI. 

Guests were welcomed to Entrepreneur Airlines, where they were instructed to book a ticket to one of the following countries: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Puerto Rico, China, or Tibet. They waited for their flight to be called in a designated waiting area, where they snacked on chips, cookies, and other refreshments. When guests heard the boarding call for their destination, they made their way to that country’s display area, where a student presented their group's plan to address a critical issue in that region. Once the presentation concluded, guests made their way back to the ticketing table to choose another destination. 

The event featured the following presentations: 

Created by: Delilah-Marie J. (XLIII), Chizitelu N. (XLIII), Barack C. D. (XLIII)

Problem: There is significant conflict and violence across Myanmar, including air strikes and artillery bombardments, which have jeopardized the safety of the country’s residents and access to basic necessities.

Solution: Barrier-Breaking Bunkers aims to offer a safe, subterranean shelter and job opportunities by offering rentable bunkers in which residents can sell the basic necessities that their community needs. 

SDGs Addressed: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being,

Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Sustainable Cities and Communities

Created by: Uzochi O. (XLIII), Dara A. (XLIII), and Arjun D. (XLIII)

Problem: Women in Sri Lanka are not prioritized in hospitals and therefore are lacking the immediacy of some of their healthcare needs. 

Solution: The FemCare website and app connect Sri Lankan women with qualified medical professionals through organizations like Doctors Without Borders who can provide preliminary screenings and help to connect them with a local doctor to circumvent the social stigma.

SDGs Addressed: Good Health and Well-Being, and Gender Equality

Created by: Mumeen R. (XLII), Jahleel M. (XLII), and Erica G. (XLIII) 

Problem: Nearly three quarters of Mexico’s population is obese; 43.9 % live in poverty. For many, good quality and healthy food is too expensive or difficult to access. 

Solution: Fresh Future purchases surplus produce from farms and businesses and makes it available to those in need at no cost to the customer. They can pick up the food at a local venue or pay a small fee to have it delivered. 

SDGs Addressed: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, and Decent Work and Economic Growth

Created by: Ashley L.-R. (XLII), Mathias O. (XLIII), Michael O. (XLIV), and Zoe Z. (XLII) 

Problem: Puerto Rico is still recovering from the damage caused by hurricanes that hit the island in 2017, 2020, and 2022.

Solution: Hurricane Life helps residents prepare for future hurricanes by offering three tiers of disaster preparedness and response, in the hopes that the more vulnerable populations can benefit from the insurance against disaster.

SDGs Addressed: No Poverty; Good Health and Well-Being; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities; and Life on Land

Created by: Rodney J.-C. (XLII), Chloe C. (XLIII), and Juwon F. (XLIII)

Problem: People in rural areas of China are not able to afford adequate healthcare and are at a loss for available work as many factories have closed in response to the country's guidelines throughout the pandemic.

Solution: inDevelopment buys abandoned factories and hires local residents to produce medical supplies that are sold to the general public in China. In addition, residents are able to receive assistance from foreign medical students via tele-health appointments. 

SDGs Addressed: Good Health and Well-Being; No Poverty; Quality Education; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and Decent Work and Economic Growth

Created by: Ella S. (XLII), Anthony J. (XLII), Abhishek C. (XLIII), and Chimdindu N. (XLIII)

Problem: Glaciers in Tibet are in danger due to the elevated carbon emissions created by heavy tourism in the area and the clearing of trees for timber. Scientists estimate that glaciers will be gone by 2035. 

Solution: The TibetTree App connects Tibetan farmers with logging companies. As part of this partnership, for every tree that is cut down, one will be replanted. In addition, tourists can register on the app to be connected with local farms willing to host them. During their stay, tourists will plant trees and learn about the environment. 

SDGs Addressed: Quality Education; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation,and Infrastructure; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life on Land; and Partnerships for the Goals

We are extremely grateful to the following speakers and companies that shared their time and resources with our students: 

• Dale Allsopp (VII), Director, Operational Transformation at Google
• Tameka Alsop, Managing Director and Chief of Staff to the CEO of Moody’s
• Maryam Banikarim of the Partnership for New York City
• Kareem Cook (VI), Chief Marketing Officer and Owner of Naturade/VeganSmart
• First Republic
• Sheldon Gilbert (IX), Founder and CEO of Proclivity Systems
• Tim Gillman, founder of RETI Center
• Elisa Jagerson, Managing Director at Wildcat
• Jessica Johnson-Cope (VIII), President of Johnson Security Bureau, Inc. and owner of The Soap Box 
• Diamanté Logan, Associate Merchandiser, Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Wholesale, USA | PVH
• Louis Melendez (XXIII), founder of Have Better Conversations
• Dr. Michael Morris, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation at the University of Notre Dame
• Chijioge Nwogu (P9 XV), Founder and CEO of GameFlo
• Trevor Price, Founder of Oxeon Partners and Co-Founder of Town Hall Ventures
• Silver Lake
• Ryan Williams (LA I), founder and CEO of Cadre