Application Deadline: Monday, October 25, 2021 at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time
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.
A total of 15 YIC finalists will receive a Youth Innovation certificate, will be shared widely through social media, and will
be recognized at GEEP’s 2021 Asia Pacific Virtual EE Forum from November 30–December 2, 2021 (Taiwan Time). In
addition, 3 of the 15 finalists will be chosen as winners, and will receive a $1,000 USD grant.
The Youth Innovation Challenge invites applicants from 15 to 30 years of age to propose a solution to address
climate change, marine litter, or both issues, that uses environmental education as a key element. Solutions must be
innovative, feasible, and informed by research.
An innovative solution could include applying an existing tool or approach in a new context, such as adapting an existing
approach to a new environmental issue, audience, or scale. Or, a solution could involve something completely new! We
encourage you to think creatively about the problem you want to solve, the steps you propose to take, and who you will
work with to achieve your goal.
Proposed solutions should also be feasible and address an unmet community need at any scale. Your target community
could be geographic, such as your city or country, or tied to shared interests, such as a school or a professional
community. Your solution should consider the needs and characteristics of your community.
Finally, proposed solutions should consider the complex social, economic, and/or environmental dynamics of climate
change and marine litter through informed research and evidence from credible sources. This background research
should demonstrate how your solution is relevant to the audience you are hoping to reach and will help us understand
your knowledge of the issue(s).
Eligibility
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.
Benefits
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.
Proposal Process
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 (see Selection Criteria below). See our tips on creating a compelling video pitch.
Applications must be submitted through Submittable by Monday, October 25, 2021 at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time.
Winners will be notified in mid-November 2021.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the GEEP Youth Innovation Challenge
