Intro
This catalogue is living proof that young people—just like you—are already inflecting their lives, peers and communitas. It’s packed with real stories from youth who saw a problem in their community and said, “Why not me?” With courage and creativity, they turned their ideas into action. It tells the stories of 42 youth-led innovations seven countries – Bangladesh, China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Mali, and Uganda. They didn’t wait for permission. They didn’t wait for the perfect moment. They just started.
From tackling climate change and improving health, to creating jobs and building peace—these young innovators found smart, bold ways to lead change, even with limited resources. They show us that innovation doesn’t come from big budgets or fancy degrees. It comes from passion, persistence, and the belief that things can be different.
From the refugee settlements of Uganda to the villages of Bangladesh, from refugee camps to city neighbourhoods, these innovations show what happens when youth are trusted to lead. Every story here started with curiosity, courage, and a desire to make life better—for themselves and their communities.
So, dive into these innovations. Discover how youth around the world are leading solutions that matter. Be inspired by their journeys—and imagine what you could do in your own community. They are organised into main themes and sub-themes to guide you to those that best match your interests or your community’s context.
Chinese Street Food Cart
Three girls and one boy run a Chinese food cart after market research, allowing them to earn income, gain confidence,…Emploi Vert: Building Skills and Opportunities for Youth in Ségou
Providing youth training and coaching to increase employability, despite limited funding and office space.Vision Barra: A Platform to Bridge the Gap Between Skills and Employment in Mali
A digital platform to build youth skills, offer career coaching, and connect job seekers to recruiters across Mali, Niger, and…Sweet Biscuit
A bakery led by a Ukrainian refugee woman that sells traditional pastries while offering a space for cultural connection and…Sharing Tea Together: Reviving Rural Tea Culture and Tourism
A social enterprise supporting rural tea farmers and reviving tea culture through e-commerce, events, and training.Small Turkey Farm
A youth-run turkey farm proving agriculture can be a viable rural livelihood, with plans to scale and inspire others.Muskan Mushroom Group: Growing Mushrooms in Bags
A youth group cultivates mushrooms using grow bags—earning steady income and planning to scale up with more bags and new…Sucker Fished: Producing Sustainable Pet Food from Sucker Fish
Turning sucker fish—an invasive, discarded species—into pet food, creating jobs and reducing ecological damage.Roshni Stitching Centre
A group of women launched a collaborative tailoring shop to generate income, build confidence, and plan for expansion despite financial…Waka Photography: Using Visual Storytelling for a Greener Future
Using photography to raise awareness on environmental issues. They train youth, set up school green clubs, run tree planting campaigns…Jasekay: Turning Sawdust (wood waste) into Sustainable Mushroom Farming
Transforming sawdust into mushroom-growing medium and organic fertiliser, offering a full-circle, eco-friendly farming solution.Green and Clean Enterprises
Transforming fruit and vegetable waste into floor cleaner and compost—generating profit and jobs while promoting eco-friendly practices.Ready to Frame: Producing Energy Efficient Cookstoves
Designing and selling energy-efficient cookstoves to reduce deforestation, improve women’s safety, and provide youth with income opportunities.Maaji III Youth Innovators: Turning Waste into Locally Made Briquette
Producing and selling eco-friendly briquettes from agricultural waste to reduce firewood dependence and create youth jobs in refugee settlement.Baara Center: Producing Biogas and Organic Fertilisers
Training youth in producing biogas and organic fertiliser from waste, addressing unemployment and soil degradation.Lefsosia: Handmade Vegan Leather Accessories
Producing vegan leather accessories dyed with plant-based materials—raising awareness and offering green fashion alternatives.Low Carbon Catering: Sustainable Dietary and Consumption Habits
Offering tasty, affordable plant-based meals that reduce carbon footprints while creating jobs for youth and housewives.Ek Chilte Jomi (A Piece of Land): Growing Organic Vegetables
Training women to grow organic vegetables in small spaces, using rooftop and vertical farming techniques to adapt to flooding and…Greenhouse: Storytelling and Growing Vegetables and Herbs
Building a greenhouse for growing herbs and connects with customers through storytelling to market fresh village products in urban areas.Divine Mercy Group: Producing Organic Manure for Sustainable Farming
Producing organic manure as a low-cost, sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers—improving health, environment, and income for youth.Organic Vegetables Farming
Youth grow organic vegetables using natural fertilisers and sell directly to customers, promoting health and income generation in their community.Youth Empowerment for a Better Tomorrow: Protecting the Environment Through Awareness and Action
Leading campaigns on tree planting, clean cooking and recycling while generating income from services and raising youth’s community profile.Agojo Youth for Development: Turning Waste into Useful Products
Training youth in refugee camp to turn plastic, tyres and old clothes into products like chairs and bags—reducing waste and…Shopno Nil: Producing Eco-friendly Handcrafts
Supporting women to produce eco-friendly handicrafts from jute and wood, combining income generation with environmental responsibility.Upcycling and Recycling Clothes Waste
Youth team upcycles discarded clothes into handmade products like bags and mats—raising awareness about textile waste and sustainability.Skilled Handiwork: Turning Waste into Useful Products
Training marginalised women to upcycle waste into marketable products like bags and mats, creating income and reducing landfill waste.SIKIDA LAKANI – Recycling Plastic Waste
Transforming plastic waste into decorative and functional items such as paving stones, plant pots, and furniture. This youth-led initiative tackles…Second-hand Book Trading Platform
A student-led digital marketplace for trading second-hand books to reduce waste and increase accessibility to affordable learning materials.DOUNKAFÁ: Combating Food Insecurity through Community Grain Banks
Establishing a community grain bank that supports local farmers with training, storage, and fair pricing, while offering subsidised food to…KONGON BANA: Food Security Insurance Scheme
Developing a food security insurance scheme to help families store food affordably and protect against inflation and drought.Djiguifa Innov: Affordable and Healthy Campus Dining for Students
Creating affordable campus restaurants and a meal-planning app to help students access nutritious meals and health advice.Porang Rice: Turning Porang Tubers into a Healthier Rice Alternative
Producing healthy, low-sugar rice alternative from porang tubers to support diabetic health and boost farmer income.Smart Companion Dolls for Children in Hospital
Interactive dolls providing comfort to children in hospitals—offering companionship, music, and temperature monitoring.Vegetable Crackers: Transforming Surplus Vegetables into Healthy Snacks
Turning surplus vegetables into tasty crackers to reduce waste, promote healthy eating, and support farmers with added income opportunities.Teplo Theatre Workshop: Healing and Cohesion Through Arts
Using theatre as a healing space for Ukrainian refugees in Georgia—promoting emotional recovery, confidence, and social cohesion.Shishur Hashi (Baby’s Smile): Child-Friendly Toys and Learning Materials
Creating safe, educational toys that replace screen time and support children’s learning while empowering women through local production.Community Aunt: Family Service Platform for Home-Based Elderly Care
A digital platform connecting elderly people with trusted community caregivers, offering flexible and localised home-based support.Kenéya Blon: A Mobile App for Healthcare Access
A mobile app for booking hospital appointments to reduce waiting times and streamline access to healthcare services.Swapna Konya (Dream Daughter): Producing Affordable Sanitary Napkins
Producing low-cost sanitary napkins and raise menstrual hygiene awareness to reduce infections and keep girls in school.MOCARO: Transforming Mangrove Fruits into Coffee, Snacks and Fabric
Transforming mangrove fruits into coffee, snacks, and batik, empowering women and youth while conserving coastal ecosystems.Refull: Reducing Waste by Refillable Products
A digital platform to promote refilling household products, reducing plastic waste and encouraging conscious consumption.Grow with Green: Electronic Waste Management and Recycling Platform
A digital platform and community hub that connects people with safe, eco-friendly options to recycle electronic waste. The team collects…