Empowering Inclusion Through Innovation
How NFTE alumni are taking their ideas beyond the competition to create real-world impact.
Planting the Seeds of Change
Sofiia Pavlyk first joined NFTE’s World Series of Innovation (WSI) through the Citi Foundation Youth Economic Opportunity Challenge, where students were tasked with designing solutions that use artificial intelligence tools to promote youth employment, education, or training in their local communities.
Her idea, SkillFusion, stood out among nearly 1,800 submissions worldwide for its creativity, empathy, and purpose-driven design.
SkillFusion is a free online platform designed to help people with intellectual disabilities integrate into society and the workforce through immersive online simulations and personalized learning programs.
By combining artificial intelligence, gamified training modules, and accessibility-centered design, the platform helps learners build practical skills and confidence in a safe digital environment.
“Today’s world is characterized by incredibly progressive technologies and research that are improving each day”, Sofiia explained. “However, when it comes to people with intellectual disabilities, both society and technology are still not fully adapted to their needs. Our team sincerely wanted to help them integrate into social and economic life through more accessible resources. As a result, the idea to create SkillFusion was born.”
Since competing, Sofiia has continued to expand her scientific and creative potential. She has participated in international science conferences and led two research projects through the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (JASU), earning top national honors and becoming a laureate of the Presidential Scholarship for her work in marketing and sociology.
Her achievements have also been recognized by the Lviv City Council and Regional Council, reflecting her growing influence in Ukraine’s academic and innovation communities.
“The most important learning moment was understanding that criticism should not be seen as a stop sign but as a valuable resource to improve your project. It’s best to treat criticism as a form of market research—an interview with your target audience.”
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges, as she balances research, school, and community involvement, but she credits the WSI experience with teaching her resilience and adaptability. She tells future innovators,
“My main advice would be: don’t be afraid to be afraid. Regardless of the result, you have the opportunity to gain incredible experience and knowledge – which may become the starting point of your journey.”
The Future She’s Building
Sofiia hopes to continue expanding SkillFusion in the future. She notes that bringing the platform to life would require considerable funding and resources. In the meantime, she’s channeling her entrepreneurial drive into a new project called Numo, a startup designed to help young people reach their personal goals through teamwork and shared motivation.
Her vision goes beyond a single innovation.
“My biggest goal right now is to create projects that will strengthen the innovative potential of Ukrainian society and inspire people to think creatively and believe in their abilities. I dream that in the future, our country will become a leader that focuses its postwar recovery on innovation and progress.”
Sofiia reflects the very hope that drives the World Series of Innovation and the broader NFTE ecosystem— that every young person who engages with our programs will see their own power to shape a better, more inclusive world through bold ideas and purposeful action.