Young winners of Explorer 8 Life Academy Awards impress with their philanthropic ideas
Last updated 7/8/2010 12:11:52 PM
Explorer 8 Life Academy Awards
They were selected from hundreds of hopefuls - twelve finalists, who went head to head in a live pitch to win one of three £10,000 grants which would help them put their philanthropic ideas into action.
The top twelve submitted video entries to the Internet Explorer 8 Life Academy Awards, which aims to celebrates the creativity of a generation who has grown up with internet and are now coming of age.
Using new media, each entrant created a two minute video for Internet Explorer 8 Life Academy, explaining a socially responsible idea and how they proposed to take it forward. The finalists went on to battle it out in front of a high profile judging panel including Professor Robert Winston, entrepreneur and lastminute.com co-founder Brent Hoberman and Countdown mathematician Rachel Riley.
Shortlisted ideas included building schools in Kenya; training football coaches in deprived countries; an online music collection of studio live sessions for local musicians; creating green energy from footstepsand providing a politics platform for aspiring councillors.
Twenty-two-year-old Luke Duggleby, a medical graduate at Bristol University, won the Adventurer Explorer Grant for travel, adventure or environmental projects. His charitable idea was to build a Vocational Centre in Bweyale, Uganda. The young entrepreneur will use the funds to help bring the internet and services to Bweyale which will significantly improve their personal and educational needs in the community.
Nick Palfrey, 23, from Plymouth won the Creativity Explorer Grant for creative, media and arts-based ideas. His idea was Moofu Education, an e-learning system aimed at maximising students' potential by using multi-media tools and new technology to make learning spaces better. Using cutting edge games technology, and an understanding of students' needs, it encourages students to design, create and develop their own learning spaces - and interact with the elements within.
Rowenna Davis, 25, a graduate and freelance journalist from London won the Online Venture Grant for budding technology and business entrepreneurs. Her concept was Young People: Local Government, an idea to target young people who are disillusioned and disengaged with mainstream politics. The prize money will go towards building a website that will link young people to local governments around the country who are struggling to find new councillors.
To find out more information about the Internet Explorer 8 Life Academy Awards, go to:www.lifeacademy.uk.com
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