From humble beginnings to winning Solve for Tomorrow
Filipino students engage in environmental challenges
Finding a way with resilience and key technologies
Four young students from Belize, Amber Wright, Alair Marin, Irian Jones, and Osvani Magaña, made a splash on the international stage. They competed in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2023 held in Panama. This annual competition brings together talented students from across Latin America and the Caribbean, challenging them to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.
This year marked the first time Belize participated in the Latin American edition of the competition, making their victory even more remarkable. The four girls stood out amongst over 9,000 participants from more than 100 schools, showcasing their ingenuity and dedication.
Their journey and the creation that secured them the top prize is a story of inspiration for aspiring problem-solvers everywhere. Read on to discover what challenge they tackled and how their invention is making a difference.
Team Belize, representing Pallotti High School, stood out amongst the thousands of participants. Their focus: a challenge impacting millions globally and acutely felt in their own community - visual impairment. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide have some form of vision impairment, with 1 billion experiencing near or distant vision loss. In Belize, reliable data on the prevalence of visual impairment is limited, but the team’s observations indicated a significant challenge.
“We observed the daily struggles of people with visual impairments,” shared Amber. “The infrastructure does not cater to their needs, and existing support systems are limited.” Fueled by this observation and a desire to make a difference, the team embarked on a journey of innovation, culminating in their groundbreaking invention – SMARTZ.
This ingenious device tackles a significant concern for the visually impaired – head injuries and falls. SMARTZ is a two-part wearable solution, offering users a multi-layered shield against potential dangers. The cane attachment detects objects within a 3-5 feet radius, while the smart glasses identify potential dangers at head level, preventing facial or head trauma.
Team Belize’s dedication and resourcefulness not only secured them the coveted first place title but also garnered them the respect and admiration of the global community. Their story transcends the realm of competition, becoming a powerful testament to the potential within Belizean youth and highlighting the importance of addressing local challenges with innovative solutions that can have a global impact.
“This win is a milestone for aspiring scientists and inventors in Belize, and we hope it inspires others to pursue their dreams in STEM fields,” said a team member.
Team Belize’s remarkable journey serves as a powerful reminder that innovation can blossom anywhere, fueled by a combination of passion, dedication, and resourcefulness. Their story is a call to action, urging young people everywhere to embrace their potential and become the problem-solvers and changemakers of tomorrow.
In 2023, the Philippines ignited a spark in its future with the launch of its first-ever Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. This marked a significant step forward for the nation’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, as over 200 high school entries poured in from across the country.
The competition demonstrated Filipino students’ dedication to harnessing technology and creativity to address pressing societal issues. Participants themselves emphasized the platform’s role in fostering innovation and collaboration, stating, “Solve for Tomorrow allows us to unleash our creativity and develop solutions that resonate with our communities and beyond.”
The inaugural competition witnessed teams presenting diverse digital solutions aimed at tackling urgent environmental challenges.
High school students from the Cagayan Valley Campus of Philippine Science High School embarked on a mission to enhance national household safety. Their project, “Intellimeter: A Smart Electric Management System with App Interface,” aimed to address the prevalent concerns of rising energy consumption and costs, alongside the alarming rate of house fires caused by unattended plugged appliances.
“Intellimeter is a smart electronic management system integrated with a user-friendly app,” explained team member Ethan Marc L. Bautista. “It can be seamlessly incorporated into any building’s distribution panel. Once connected to the grid, the built-in AI suggests strategies for saving electricity.”
Expressing their gratitude for Solve for Tomorrow, the team shared, “The journey, from brainstorming to creating a prototype, presented valuable learning experiences. We aspire to take this project even further, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
Teams across the nation presented inventive approaches to environmental preservation. A team from Mindoro Island tackled plastic waste and oil spills with their project, “O.A.S.I.S.: Oil and Solid Waste Agricultural Absorption System with Integrated Solar-powered Filtration Bin Technology.” Recognizing the hardships faced by locals and fishermen, they focused on developing a filtration system to remove oil and microplastics from the ocean, fostering a cleaner environment for communities reliant on marine resources.
Similarly, students from Nueva Vizcaya introduced “TomPost: Agricultural Waste Compost Processor” to combat the challenge of agricultural waste. By transforming excess tomatoes and other farm byproducts into valuable compost, the project not only addressed waste management concerns but also empowered farmers to minimize losses and maximize profits.
Despite their diverse approaches, all teams shared a profound commitment to understanding their communities’ needs and building a better future. They highlighted the transformative power of creativity in promoting environmental stewardship and community resilience. “Throughout Solve for Tomorrow,” they shared, “we strengthened our bond with both society and our team, working hand-in-hand towards a shared goal. If you share this passion, we urge you to join the Solve for Tomorrow journey.”
Indonesia faces a projected shortage of nearly nine million skilled ICT professionals by 2030. This critical gap threatens to hinder the nation's economic growth and technological advancement. To bridge this divide, Samsung Innovation Campus has emerged as a powerful solution, equipping the next generation of Indonesians with the essential skills needed to thrive in the digital future.
Samsung Innovation Campus goes beyond simply offering theoretical knowledge. Its comprehensive curriculum focuses on practical training, ensuring that students gain the necessary skills to excel in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Through intensive courses in coding and programming, Indonesian youth receive a solid foundation in the fundamentals of technology.
This empowers them to not only understand complex concepts but also translate them into tangible solutions, preparing them to become the future leaders of the tech industry.
The 2023 program participants in Indonesia exemplified the essence of resilience and perseverance. Despite facing various challenges, such as frequent power outages and difficulty acquiring materials, they embraced the program wholeheartedly. After months of dedicated learning, they finally had the opportunity to put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice.
The program instilled in them a winning mentality, encouraging them to confront challenges head-on, find creative solutions, and utilize their full potential. This journey empowered them to excel and laid a foundation for even greater achievements in the future.
With the unwavering support of Samsung mentors and dedicated program teachers, numerous other teams also thrived, solidifying their foundation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) knowledge. As one winning team member expressed, “Samsung Innovation Campus empowered us to overcome limitations and continuously learn.”
The program witnessed diverse and innovative solutions from participating teams, showcasing their newfound skills and problem-solving abilities. The first-place winner, Eaterstelar, developed the Smart PLTS solution, a system that monitors and switches home power sources between solar and grid options. Other teams presented equally impressive ideas, such as a smart trash solution that sorts waste and a digital solution that monitors room temperature and humidity.
These experiences equipped the students not only with technical skills but also with the confidence and ability to understand, adapt to, and utilize emerging technologies. Samsung Innovation Campus empowers them to become the next generation of innovators and leaders, shaping a brighter future for themselves and Indonesia.
