The NGFP Young Voices Awards showcase impressive diversity and global representation of youth projects. The applicants range in age from 12 to 17 years old, delivering grassroots impact across 7 different countries spanning 5 continents. Countries represented in this year’s global cohort include Greece, India, United States, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Africa, and Peru.

The Young Voices Awards feature individual and team projects addressing complex challenges aligned with SOIF’s Foresight Transformation Missions. Projects directly advance key UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a notable focus on SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Key themes this year include:

Civic Tech & Democratic Innovation: Initiatives like Carta Europa (Greece) democratize governance through interactive mapping, AI-driven event analysis, and civic tracking tools that transform complex policy into community action.

Environmental & Ocean Preservation: Youth leverage advanced technology and circular solutions, from TideGuard AI (Russian Federation) predicting marine plastic debris movement 14 days in advance to Jal Setu (India) engineering low-cost, electricity-free groundwater filters from rice-husk waste.

Tech Inclusivity & Neurodiversity: Digital tools expand access for underserved minds, highlighted by SYNAP (Kazakhstan), an AI-powered assistant designed as an external prefrontal cortex to help neurodivergent youth regulate tasks and emotional focus.

Grassroots Climate & STEM Education: Projects turn local resources into learning engines—such as Earth Warriorz (Pakistan) funding free climate classrooms through eco-friendly doll sales and ReBotics (India) upcycling waste into affordable STEM kits.

Community Equity & Health Resilience: Initiatives bridge local social and health gaps, from EmpowerHer Impact Fund (India) offering sustainable micro-capital for women founders to Seeding Hope (USA) tackling urban food insecurity and Future SkinSmart SA (South Africa) pioneering student-led health advocacy networks.

FIRST PLACE WINNER

First Place Winner (GREECE): Carta Europa

Carta Europa empowers citizens across Europe through interactive mapping, AI-driven event analysis, and civic tracking tools, making complex governance accessible while inspiring active community engagement.

Runner-ups

Runner Up (Kazakhstan): SYNAP SYNAP is an AIpowered app functioning as an external prefrontal cortex, helping neurodivergent users initiate tasks, maintain focus, navigate real life disruptions, and regulate emotional well being.

Runner Up (India): ReBotics ReBotics upcycles local waste into affordable robotics kits, teaching underserved children hands-on STEM and sustainability through interactive community workshops that foster curiosity, equity, and innovation.

Runner Up (United States): Seeding Hope Seeding Hope tackles local food insecurity across Southern California through hands-on gardening education, seed distribution, drought-resilient growing, and surplus food recovery to empower self-sufficient communities.