Congratulations to Winners and Finalists in the 2023 Challenge Season!

Here are the top competitors in the 2023-24 academic year NFTE World Series of Innovation.

Citi Foundation Skills for Success Challenge - 2023

The Challenge: Design a solution to promote equal access to skills development and employment opportunities for marginalized and disadvantaged youth.

Winners

• First Place: DeCode, a mobile app that aggregates CS vocabulary into visually-guided flashcards and tailors the GPT-4 language model to assist non-English-native programming enthusiasts, amplifying accessibility to the field of computing for everyone, everywhere. Submitted by Xinying Sui (17) from American School of Warsaw in Poland. See their video here.
• Second Place: Future Pros, an app designed to streamline the job application process for first time workers, especially at-risk youth. Submitted by Victoria Douglas (18) from Connetquot High School in New York, USA. See their video here.
• Third Place: GoClean, revolutionizes organic waste management by providing free certified training on upgraded, first-time insulated domestic biodigesters, creating a substantial market in the burgeoning fields of renewable energy and skill development. Submitted by Maryam Saleem (13) from Beacon House School System Mirpur in Pakistan. See their video here.

Finalists

• Access Empower, an app that provides access to all of the resources needed in one place to empower intellectually disabled youth to gain the skills they need to be employed and self-sufficient. Submitted by a team from Florida, United States. See their video here.
• Bumps & Books, supports student moms, fostering a community for educational and career growth with tailored services, emphasizing understanding and companionship. Submitted by a team from Germany. See their video here.
• CareerSync, an app designed to guide young individuals, particularly those with limited experience or resources, through a structured, engaging journey of career exploration and skill development. Submitted by a team from Taiwan. See their video here.
• Jasa, app for youth job searches, part-time opportunities, internships, and guiding teens in skill development and career paths. Submitted by a team from Kazakhstan. See their video here.
• LearnSphere Voyager, a fleet of learning centers that, through mobility, bring computer skills training at scale to youth in underdeveloped parts of the Philippines, using internationally developed, locally tailored curricula. Submitted by a team from Canada. See their video here.
• LectoLens, augmented reality glasses that revolutionize the reading experience for children by improving focus and concentration, while incorporating animations related to reading and promoting reading comprehension. Submitted by a team from Mexico. See their video here.
• PATHS, an organization focused on the introduction of autistic adolescents into the workforce. Submitted by a team from California, United States. See their video here.