“Young Aurora is a reminder of the importance of positive action and the small steps that we can take to find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Faith Abiodun, Executive Director of UWC International, as he kicked off the Aurora Dialogues Online event titled “Facing Reality: Acknowledging Community Challenges” that was held on March 18, 2024. During the event, UWC Changshu China’s Enlightenment project was proclaimed the winner of the 2023–2024 Young Aurora competition. This year’s winning team will receive an impressive $10,000 prize to help grow their project aimed at empowering rural youth from underprivileged backgrounds.

Earlier this year, the pre-selection panel has chosen Pearson College UWC, UWC Changshu China and UWC Mahindra College as the finalists for the 2023–2024 Young Aurora competition. For the three teams’ final online presentation, Mr. Abiodun introduced the Jury that included Anna Afeyan, Co-Founder of Afeyan Foundation; Dalia Atallah, UWCD Alumna; Mirza Dinnayi, 2019 Aurora Prize Laureate and Co-Founder of Air Bridge Iraq; Dele Olojede, Aurora Prize Selection Committee Member and Chairman of the Board, Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship; and Bonita Sharma, Aurora Prize Expert Panel Member and Co-founder and CEO of Social Changemakers and Innovators (SOCHAI).

You can watch the full video of the discussion below.