Dear contestants and supporters,
BE OPEN thanks everyone who submitted their initiatives and thus contributed to this programme in an array of meaningful, innovative and passionate ways. We also thank everyone who has taken time and effort to review the submissions and cast their votes in the public vote section.
Thanks to hard and elaborate work by our amazing jury panel, and to the precious votes of the public, we are now able to announce the winners of the First, Second and… again Second prizes, as well as the Public Vote prize.
First Prize Winner
Ajisafe Damilola Ifeoluwa is a Medicine and Surgery student from the University of Ilorin, passionate about youth advocacy and participation in solving the world problems. She is a consistent volunteer for climate action, with particular focus on tropical diseases and health education.
Second Prize Winner 1st
Foday David Kamara is a BA in Global Challenges with specialization in Sustainability, Enterprise and Environment at the African Leadership University.
Second Prize Winner 2nd
Adnan Hasyim Wibowo is a student of SDGs Hub UI, one of the work units under the Institute of Sustainable Earth Resources at Universitas Indonesia.
Since Ecovironment and AGASA received equal number of points from the jury, both the entries become the Second Prize Winners and receive equal grants of 2500 euro each.
Public Vote Winner
Komborero Victor Kangai and Tinotenda Chrispen Makoni are students of Physics, Maths and Computer Science at the High Achievers Coach International Academy of Zimbabwe.
On June 22, 2023 the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, France. In the conclusion of his speech, he said the following words meant specifically for the younger generations:
“My generation has clearly failed in many respects – especially on the climate crisis. I count on your generation to keep turning up the heat on global leaders. Hold the powerful accountable. Sound the alarm. Stand up for each other and our planet, and human rights. And build a better future – rooted in solidarity, equality and sustainability.”
DESIGNING FUTURES 2050 is an international design competition, developed and held by BE OPEN and our partners. It is open to students and recent graduates/young professionals internationally.
The competition hopes to reach a number of goals:
- to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and the necessity of urgent action among the young and upcoming professionals
- to involve younger creatives into adjusting and updating the SDG agenda in the light of the realities of today, and encourage them to take a larger part in the actualization and implementation of the realistic sustainable actions plan
- to encourage and reward creation of innovative solutions by younger creatives, for a more prosperous and sustainable future
- to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs through identifying, showcasing and promoting creative ideas that support global shift to a sustainable and efficient future.
Design-thinking has a crucial role to play as an instrument or vehicle for the implementation of a more sustainable future. BE OPEN and all of the stakeholders involved in this international competition programme strongly believe that creativity is integral in the shift to sustainable existence.
BE OPEN strives to make the competition programme more beneficial for students and graduates:
- the participants can expand their knowledge in sustainability matters and futures studies
- the participants can compete for money prizes ranging from €2,000 to €5,000
- the participants can get international publicity as talented creatives and innovators
- the winners will go on a trip to a major international UNSDG-related event and pitch their ideas to international audiences
DESIGNING FUTURES 2050 has three categories for the submissions to relate to, to help contestants choose their approach to the challenge:
- Battling the Problems of Today
- Creating the Visions of Tomorrow
- Adjusting the Sustainable Development Goals
Thus, the major question that the competition poses against students and graduates all over the world is: “What changes, adjustments and introductions can be done to help achieve the wellbeing for all mankind formulated by the sustainable development goals by 2050?”
PRIZES
BE OPEN will reward the best work with the following monetary prizes as well as with honorary mentions.
- First prize — €5,000
- Second prize — €3,000
- Third prize — €2,000
- BE OPEN Founder’s Choice prize — €3,000
- Public Vote prize — €2,000
TIMELINE
- Open for submissions — September 15, 2024
- Deadline for submissions — January 31st, 2025
- Announcement of winners — March to April 2025
- Celebration of winners — TBC
Please read more about the competition in ABOUT →