2019 marks the
second year T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation
launch their Changemaker challenge for Youth Visionaries. This is also the
second year Ashoka is parting with T-Mobile. I seriously wish I knew about this
contest last year as I would have insisted that a few of my friends’ kids entered
and my 16 year old could have. I’ve seen some ideas that they have come up with.
In 2018 over 300 teams entered the challenge. They
had to narrow all those ideas down to 30. Those 30 teams won an epic trip to
T-Mobile HQ in Seattle, where they got to build on their changemaker skills
through mentorships at the Changemaker lab and really but their ideas into
reality. The lab set up setting that is un-conference workshop like. This allows
the changemakers to focus on their skills and critical thinking.
Keep a look out for Six winning teams as they
will be announced in November and will be receiving additional seed funding plus the chance to present their projects to T-Mobil’s leaders’
team and compete for the grand prize.
Last year CEO John Legere liked some of the ideas so much, he
selected six teams as his own personal CEO Picks and donated another $30,000
out of his own pocket. In my book that’s putting your money where your
mouth is and supporting your cause.
Two
Grand-Prize-Winning teams will be announced during the lab and will win more funding,
and will also receive a second trip back
to T-Mobile HQ– aimed at helping them Supercharge their project!
As you
can see it was such a success that T-Mobile and Ashoka doing it for the second
year in a row.
This year to qualify you
need to be between the ages of 13 and 23 and live in the USA and Puerto Rico. T-Mobile
and Ashoka are asking entrants for ideas that focus on Technology, Environment
and Education as a means for creating more connected, sustainable and inclusive
communities. Apply Now through September 26, act now!
I have kids that are younger
and older so it’s really important to really talk about being a young changemaker,
even if they can’t compete in this competition yet.
Talk to your Younger kids about being Changemakers?
I think we can all agree that our kids are our future.
We also need to encourage them to want to change their future and that’s in all
areas in life. This starts at such an early age.
According to the US Department of Labor, 65% of
today’s K-12 students will end up at a job that hasn’t been invented yet.
My youngest is only 7 and my oldest is 16, but I don’t have to wait
until she’s 13, for this challenge to start, I need to start now. Parents, we
need to talk to our kiddos now about what it means to be a changemaker. Did you
know that According to the US Department of Labor, 65% of today’s K-12 students
will end up at a job that hasn’t been invented yet. That really makes you think
about the options and the creativity of our kids. Ashoka and I agree that for
young people to thrive in a world where everything is changing you need master
certain skills. Those skills are empathy, leadership and teamwork/changemaking.
Empathy- encourage your kiddos
to volunteer for something that is important to them. talk to your kids about
social challenges in the community, learn about a different culture.
Animals are important to Fallon. For her birthday her
and her best friend had a joint bday party where instead of presents they asked
the guests to bring in food and toys for cats and dogs. Then we took the girls
to the shelter and gave those donations to the animals. This was a great
learning experience for both Fallon and her best friend.
Leadership- Encourage
kids to solve their own problems or lead family meetings, allow them to be
king/queen for the day and decide family activities. We have been talking a lot
lately about chores and Fallon has been wanting to do them. I mean really asking
to do chores. So she helped us with our chore chart. Her prize was to do what
she wanted and she wanted was to go roller-skating.
Teamwork/changemaking- Ask kids for solutions to
parenting problems (eg, How can I get you to come downstairs earlier in the
morning?), cook dinner together as a family, letting kids decide the menu.
One thing she LOVES to do is to cook. She
watches me cook for the family and for the blog and always wants to help, which
I think is awesome. Her older sister doesn’t lover cooking or baking as much
but doesn’t mind helping sometimes. It’s nice to see the girls working together
and it become a family affair.
Really talk to your kids about what a
changemaker is and what it means to the family and to the future.
I hope next year Mya enters The Changemaker Challenge.
Most of all, when Fallon gets older I really do hope that the T-Mobile
Foundation and Ashoka are still doing the Changemaker Challenge. It would be
amazing if she could be a part of it then.
This post was sponsored by T-Mobile and financial compensation was received for this post. The sponsor and any compensation received for this post in no way affected my opinion or any statements presented in this post. Top Notch Material blog always provides honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products and services reviewed. If you have any questions or would like your product, service or company featured on Top Notch Material, please contact katrina from Top Notch Material at katrina dot gehman {at} gmail [dot] com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
What an awesome challenge/contest. Being able to win this and then putting it into reality is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these teams.
ReplyDeleteI love this Changemaker movement. What a great way to encourage and engage our youth.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about things like this! This is what it's all about... giving others an opportunity to be something.
ReplyDeleteLooking beyond the normal is the need of today. And such change makers are the ones who are attempting to make this world a better place. Nice concept.
ReplyDeleteI'm an innovator so I can really relate a lot! I love how T-Mobile pioneers on innovation!
ReplyDeleteI like this concept. To look beyond the normal is the very important these days. These change maker kids are our future. The ones changing the world to make it better. I raised one of them.
ReplyDeletePeople often associate cell phone and teenagers in a negative way. This is such a great way to change the conversation for the better!
ReplyDeleteThis is really amazing! A great way to encourage kids to make a change and get involved.
ReplyDeleteI like the perspective keep up the good work
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome campaign. I am excited to read about who won and what their ideas are. I have 3 changemakers myself. They are very confident in their abilities which they use to do volunteer work for the community.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. Kids excel when given the opportunity to explore their interests, display their abilities, and be inspired to follow their dreams.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope they are still doing this when my son is the appropriate age to participate. It sounds like such a wonderful opportunity for kids.
ReplyDeleteI love this! What a great campaign. I always love when kids can learn leadership skills.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really cool program for young innovators to be a part of. It will be cool seeing which teams win!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a wonderful campaign! It's crazy to think that so many jobs will be invented in the next decade or so! My kids are younger, but I agree with you that it's never to early to start teaching them leadership skills and empathy!
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about this contest by us but I know it is a great fit for my son. Supporting our kids is an important benefit this company provides.
ReplyDeleteThat is so amazing! I love that T-Mobile is doing so much to help bring change to the world.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I don’t think I have talked to my kids about being a change maker. I need to fix that ASAP! This is amazing - Jeanine
ReplyDeleteI love this! I hope my daughters can enter this challenge as well! We try to teach our kids to give back and help others as well.
ReplyDeleteLove that being a change maker is making waves and getting attention - great way to make a positive impact!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing challenges like this one. It is a positive way to make an impact on the world!
ReplyDeleteI feel that I have lived my life as an advocate for change and in the social service field. I love that my kids are little advocates themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very powerful challenge for kids and parents alike. The positivity, the attitude, the energy level it raises in kids is of a True Change Maker.
ReplyDeleteI love that being a changemaker is being put front and center for this new generation! We need thinkers and doers in our society. People that can make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of this challenge. What a fun, cute way to inspire kids to be the best they can be!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great way to encourage kids to enhance their skills and passion.
ReplyDeleteThat's mind blowing to think kids could have a job that hasn't even been thought of yet! This is such a great endeavor to invest in!
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible movement to encourage kids while they are young. I really love this idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is one incredible and worthwhile activity. It is nice to see kids drawn to making positive changes. Those are brilliant kiddos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! We have to face it cellphones are more important today than ever before and I'm so glad that companies are showing the positive. We've all heard enough of the negative. Great job. (Rena)
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome campaign. Teaching kids about skills and being a good person are important. They are the future, after all.
ReplyDelete-LYNNDEE
This is such an exciting and very productive challenge, kudos to T-Mobile for pioneering it. Your daughter sounds like mine who love to cook as well.
ReplyDeleteYou look great girl! This sounds like a great program!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great contest! I didn't know T-mobile did this type of things. I think is awesome to see something positive as we are always hearing about how technology/cellphones have a negative impact in our lives. While this may be true to some extent, is great to see some positive as well.
ReplyDeleteI've written about the Changemaker by T-Mobile on my blog last year as well, so I know that this is a worthwhile program for the youth. I love the ideas you mentioned about teaching your kids early in their life to be a 'changemaker'. That's very important!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great challenge! I didn't know that T-Mobile offer this exciting program. It sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat challenge, and a great way to get people inspired to do better. I hadn't heard of this before, but it will be good to look into.
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t aware of this program and think it is beyond wonderful. My children are over the age to participate but I would have loved them in this progr
ReplyDeleteHaving an experience like this could certainly be life changing for kids. Nice to read about the positive things that companies are doing.
ReplyDeleteDoing good in anyway is something we should all be doing! A little effort can go a long way!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really amazing way for kids to gain experience and learn about the value of working to help others.
ReplyDelete