GEEP 2021 Youth Innovation Challenge

How can we help solve the world’s most pressing issues? This challenge gives young people around the world a chance to come up with innovative solutions to two pressing environmental and social issues: climate change and marine litter. The Youth Innovation Challenge (YIC) is a program of the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), a vibrant and inclusive learning network designed to champion environmental education (EE) around the world. GEEP is a partnership between the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan, and the North American Association for Environmental Education, which serves as the secretariat. In partnership with the Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration, GEEP invites applicants between the ages of 15–30 years to propose a solution to one or both of these issues; we’re looking for solutions that you could implement on your own or in partnership with other individuals or organizations.

• Table of Content
• About Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP)
• Youth Innovation Challenge
• Aim and Benefits of Youth Innovation Challenge
• Requirements for Youth Innovation Challenge Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP)

The Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) is a vibrant and inclusive learning network designed to build capacity in countries around the world to strengthen environmental education and lead to a more equitable and sustainable future.

Youth Innovation Challenge

Aim and Benefits of Youth Innovation Challenge

All eligible proposals will be evaluated by a panel of experts in relevant fields. A total of 15 YIC finalists will be selected and will receive the following benefits:

• An official YIC finalist certificate
• Recognition through GEEP, NAAEE, and other global partners’ websites and social media pages
• Additional exposure for their solution to environmental education leaders and influencers at the 2021 Asia Pacific Virtual EE Forum

We will select 3 YIC winners from the 15 YIC finalists. Each winner will receive a $1,000 USD grant, in addition to all the benefits listed above.

Finalists will be notified by mid-November 2021. At the end of the challenge, all applicants are welcome to request feedback about submissions.

Requirements for Youth Innovation Challenge Qualification

The Youth Innovation Challenge is intended for young leaders and innovators aged 15–30. Your innovative solutions must:

• address climate change or marine litter, or both (since these issues are connected)
• include an environmental education component (see important guidance in Selection criteria below)
• be submitted online through Submittable (only one proposal per person will be accepted) Proposals will only be accepted in English at this time.

Your video and written responses will not be scored based on your English ability, but rather the strength of your solution and your ability to communicate your ideas and vision to the judges.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applications should include a short (less than 3 minutes) video pitch about your innovative solution and detailed responses to the questions below. Successful proposals will describe how their solution addresses climate change or marine litter and will explain how their solution is innovative, feasible, and grounded in effective environmental education

For more details, visit GEEP website.