Age
7
Country of Residence
United States
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
My spark moment was when I had a day when I got super tired listening to podcasts and playing video games. So I just stopped and took a nap and after the nap I decided it would be a good idea to put the electronics on the side.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
This is still a new idea. I’ll be talking about it with my friends and family and trying to get the word out with teachers and parents so that they help their kids do the challenge.
How many people are on your team?
4
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
I think the impact will be that kids have a lot more fun, they’ll be a lot happier, and it’ll be better for the earth and animals and our brains, which are muscles. If about 80,000 kids participate I think that would be an enormous change for the better.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
A contest to encourage not using electronics and to do outdoors activities instead, because that’s better for kids and the Earth.
Project title
The Blackout Challenge
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Because we don’t want to get to the end of the Earth; that’s for sure. Disconnecting from electronics helps us use less energy, having less electric light at night is good for moths and birds, and it’s better for our brains.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
I’m going to ask local newspapers and radio stations to help spread the word. I’m going to start building the website for the challenge with help from grownups. I’m also going to start with my own school to get kids to participate.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
I heard about something like this on a Hebrew podcast and I want to bring it to the United States and for kids around the world.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Kids will set weekly goals to not use screens for a certain amount of time. Their parents would help keep track and I’ll make a website with my mom’s help to help people keep track. We would try to give prizes to encourage kids to spend less tins on screens. I’ll also encourage people to make shifts to wind and solar energy on the website. And to post photos of their outdoor time and activities because that helps others see what a good and fun idea it is to do things other than screen time.
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
My team would be me, Tripp, Axel, and Charlie. Charlie is an outdoor kid; me, Tripp, and Axel are going to be real life test cases of the challenge. We’re all going to work together since we’re all in the same class. We’re going to all work to get the prizes for the people doing the challenge.
