Challenge:Future – Youth Think-DO-Tank

Powered by youth from all over the world with over 24,000 online community members from more than 200 countries and territories, CF is decisively moving from ideas to action. Hundreds of real-life projects related to sustainability are being implemented by CF youth in their environments. Some have thought of innovative ways of delivering education to slum children in India. Others have invented a revolutionary design of portable and recyclable market stalls in Nigeria. Solar-powered video sessions are helping nomadic tribes in Uganda get important agriculture skills while multiple innovations in sustainable food distribution are being implemented in Singapore. While companies are engaging in anti-corruption education projects in Costa Rica run by youth, guest lectures, skill-building workshops, and local sustainability events are being organized by CF chapters in Turkey, Montenegro, Pakistan, India, Denmark, and the Philippines.

This year's prize of EUR 20,000 was divided by two teams: WeBuilt:Africa from Nigeria and Rush Hot Chilli Brains from Russia. The Nigerian team convinced the jury of the usefulness of its idea: designing and manufacturing trade-specific market stalls from recycled materials for street vendors. This idea could eventually be used in the slums of many countries. The Russian team's idea was to create a universal social network uniting all volunteers, charity funds, and socially responsible entrepreneurs by providing them common ground for action. Both teams are now continuing and expanding the implementation of their solutions in real life.

This year, the competition was marked by closer cooperation with companies and international organizations. It involved short competitions in different formats and on diverse topics for Triglav Insurance Company, Studio Moderna, Slovenian Tourist Board, World Business School Council for Sustainable Business, as well as Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and its Anti-Corruption Working Group. Cooperation was also established with the UNESCO Headquarters (Section for Youth) and UNESCO local representation in Ljubljana. This resulted in official UNESCO patronage for the CF Summit, while the President of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Turk, was the Summit’s patron for the second time.

Danica Purg, President of CEEMAN and IEDC-Bled School of Management, stressed that "The stories of the CF community members are full of inspiration and positive energy. I do not have only the winners and finalists in mind, but all 1,469 ideas in the competition. As co-creators of the project, we are proud that young, innovative and socially responsible youth were given an opportunity to enter the business world and get equipped with useful knowledge and skills."

Andreja Kodrin, Founder and President of CF, pointed out that "Change can be either observed or created. The success of the CF project shows that the latter option is much better and that young people have much to say in this process. For that to happen, they should be given a chance to be heard."