Microsoft empowers youths to use innovation to foster more inclusion and diversity in schools

The Microsoft Innovation Centre continues to fulfil its role as a promoter of innovation as 50 students from six different schools last week competed in the sixth edition of the Jaye Malta Foundation Social Innovation Challenge.

This annual social enterprise event was organised by Jaye Malta Foundation in collaboration with Microsoft during which participating student teams are tasked to develop an idea for a social enterprise in order to solve a social issue based on real-life case studies.

This year’s Social Innovation Challenge invited the participating students to design a technological solution that could help promote inclusion and diversity in schools. The students, mentored by Microsoft Malta, Ernst and Young and Corporate Gifts Malta business advisors, had to use an emerging technology namely virtual reality sets, 3D printers or Lego Robotics, and explore how these technologies could be applied in developing their social enterprise.

One of the start-up companies currently operating from the MIC, Darttek, also contributed to the event with a Web Development masterclass to all the participating students who got to enjoy very useful tips on web development.

This year’s challenge was won by St Catherine’s High School from Pembroke whose team proposed a special mechanised standing wheelchair that could enable wheelchair-bound students to perform sporting activities in a most efficient manner. Participating schools included St Dorothy’s School, De La Salle College, St Martin’s School, Verdala International, Savio College and the Scouts Group.

“At Microsoft, we pioneer the use of technology to empower people to solve problems, to approach opportunities for growth and to help them achieve more. We believe that youths hold the solutions for tomorrow’s problems and we need to nurture their potential from now so that through technology, they can create a better world for themselves and for generations to come. This is the spirit with which we host this annual Social Innovation Challenge,” said Angela Micallef, Philanthropies lead at Microsoft Malta.

For the sixth consecutive year, Dr Godwin Caruana, chief Technology officer at 1923 Investments, led the jury for the assigning of the final winner.

In a brief comment, Dr Caruana said: “Personally, I believe that the best way to understand the future is by listening and be with those who will really shape it. This opportunity gave me insight to the world view, including hopes, expectations and dreams of upcoming thinkers and doers.”

Julian Azzopardi, CEO of Jaye Malta commended all the participating students for their commitment and for the inventiveness and flair of the ideas they proposed.

“Most importantly, we notice the desire and interest in schools and students to participate in activities like the Microsoft Innovation Challenge. Jaye Malta’s mission is to be the partner of choice for the implementation of such activities that help bring industry, academia and social issues closer – not just in dialogue but, more importantly, in action. We want to increase youth involvement in challenging the status quo with their own ideas and give them the chance to apply their knowledge, their creativity and teamwork, to propose the best solution,” Azzopardi added.