On this episode of Business Matters, presented by Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union, Rob Cupello is joined by Annabelle Lee and Zahara Greenewald, both previous winners of the Sustainable Development Challenge (SDC).
The Sustainable Development Challenge engages Okanagan youth to create innovative solutions to today's most pressing issues, and take steps towards impacting the 17 United Nations' Global Golas.
Annabelle, who is in 11th grade at OKM was awarded first place at the SDC in 2021 for her group’s project: Our Voice for Change.
Our Voice for Change is a group focused on giving students a voice in educational decision-making processes and advocating for animals. Their goal throughout the challenge was to make animal dissection an optional experience for students.
“Animal dissection is very common in our science classes- but if you look at the research it’s not necessary... it’s not about taking away animal dissection, it's about adding in alternatives for students who may be uncomfortable “ says Annabelle.
Our Voice for Change was also recently presented on TEDX Youth in Kelowna and has since received official word that they were successful in changing the student OPT OUT policy for animal dissection in their district!
Zahara, a 12th grade student at KSS, took home first place at the SDC in 2020, one year prior to Annabelle.
Zahara and her team took inspiration from a teacher who introduced the pressing issue of period poverty to students in her fifth grade class. Her team created Education4Her, a project focused on ending period poverty and providing income and educational opportunities for young women in Uganda.
Education4Her aims to give women the opportunity to “provide income for themselves and their children, which they can use for educational supplies,” says Zahara.
Along with playing a direct role in making sustainable period kits, the girls used their prize money to set up a workspace and train four local Ugandan women on how to make the components themselves, providing them with valuable entrepreneurial skills and making the kits locally available.
Both Annabelle and Zahara are now on the committee board, helping plan the next SDC Challenge. They are also mentoring and MCing at this year's SDC Finale which will take place on February 23rd, 2023!
Tune in to the full episode to hear more about the girls, their involvement in SDC, and what young leaders in our community have in store for the future.
