What is Youth-led Innovation
What is Youth-led Innovation?
Youth-led Innovation is when young people take the lead in solving problems that matter to them and their communities. It’s about turning big ideas into real action. Whether it’s about protecting the environment, improving health, starting a social business, or raising awareness on important issues—young people are in charge, from identifying the challenge to developing and testing the solution.
These innovations are not just about starting businesses. You will learn about business and leadership skills. Not everyone has to launch a business, but everyone should learn to lead and create change. That’s why Save the Children created Youth Innovation Labs — to give young people, especially those from marginalised communities, a safe and creative space to explore, experiment, and grow.
| In short, Youth-led Innovation is: Created by youth, for their communities Focused on real challenges—social, economic, political, or environmental A powerful way to learn skills like leadership, collaboration, and creative thinking |
A Youth Innovation Lab is not your usual training or workshop. It’s a creative space where young people come together to solve real problems in their communities. Whether it’s about climate change, health, education, or social inclusion—youth take the lead, working in teams and using a fun and practical method called Design Thinking.
| “Design thinking is the cornerstone of any youth innovation lab… It’s a human-centred approach to solving problems that supports young people in designing practical solutions for their communities.” |
Design Thinking is the method young people use in youth innovation labs to solve problems creatively. It’s a step-by-step process that helps teams come up with ideas that actually work for people in real life. It’s not about guessing solutions—it’s about listening, learning, and trying things out. The design thinking process helps young innovators stay focused on people’s needs and find practical, sustainable solutions. It involves five main steps:
