Application Deadline: July 9th 2017
The Beyond School Community (BSC) Challenge is a national community development and entrepreneurship program for secondary school students. It aims to engage young people in Nigeria for the purpose of creating impact within their community and developing critical entrepreneurial skills. The program seeks to inspire students to improve their communities through entrepreneurial action.
The BSC Challenge provides a platform for teams of outstanding secondary school students to create community development projects that put people’s own talents and ideas at the center of improving their livelihoods. Guided by advisors and supported by their schools, the students take an entrepreneurial approach that empowers people to be a part of their own success.
How it Works:
With the headline question: If you could solve one problem in your community, what would it be? the BSC Challenge invites students to identify a problem within their community and propose a solution with social and economic impact.
The steps are as follows:
1. Students build teams, with each team made up of 3 students between 13 and 18 years with one teacher as an Advisor.
2. Teams take the YALI Learns course online or offline with the help of their teacher. If teams decide to take the course offline, a Mandela Washington Fellow or YALI Network member should facilitate this.
3. Team members work together to identify a problem they want to solve and design a solution with a business model with the help of their teacher. The solution should also be addressing at least one of the SDGs.
4. They submit an online application before the deadline.
5. Five finalist teams (students and advisors) are invited to Lagos for a pitch competition and Summit with investors, partners, mentors and Mandela Washington Fellows.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applications are open to teams and not individuals. Each team must be made up of 3 students and 1 teacher.
• Students should be currently enrolled in a secondary school in Nigeria. Advisors should be full-time Teaching or Non‐teaching staff of the school where students are enrolled.
• Students should be in their SS1 and SS2.
• Age limit for students is 13‐18. Advisors should be above 18 years.
• Participants should be passionate about learning and engaging in community work
Benefits:
Students build new skills and become a positive force for change in their communities
• Students experience an increased sense of self-efficacy
• Students build great problem-solving and team building skills
• Students find a sense of responsibility and pride
• The program promotes learning beyond the classroom, which is essential
• Students get to network with professionals in a way that they might not otherwise be able to just by going to class
Award and Prizes:
• Cash prize of N400,000 to be shared as follows:
– N250,000 prize for the winning team
– N100,000 prize for second place team
– N50,000 prize for third place team
• Access to three months mentoring.
• Educational grant for each winning team member
• Award plaque for the Schools involved.
Timeline:
Registration (May 29 – July 9, 2017)
The registration portal is open for six weeks for teams to apply for the competition. During this time, teams will do the following:
• Register online as teams with their details and profile.
• Complete the selected YALI Learns course and obtain their digital certificate
• Brainstorm ideas and complete an online application with their solution
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Beyond School Community (BSC) Challenge 2017