I competed in Race4Good, a global challenge through which high school students around the world create solutions to problems that are evaluated by judges and community members. The winning solutions are then implemented. For our first major challenge, we were tasked with developing a sustainable livelihood plan for the Bahadur family, who live in a remote village six hours outside of Kathmandu, Nepal. Because the father is blind and the mother is partially blind, the family faced immense daily obstacles in securing a reliable income. Our goal was to design a practical, long-term business model that would allow them to cover their daily living expenses and fund their daughters’ education.
As a presenter for our group, Team Shaka, I was responsible for designing our presentation slides and helping shape our final executive plan. After hours of brainstorming and research, we designed a multi-layered model. Our plan centered on purchasing livestock, specifically chickens and goats, alongside a mobile food cart. This combination would allow the parents to raise animals for steady resources while using the cart to prepare and sell meals in busier neighboring areas. We pitched our strategy over Zoom to a panel of three judges, competing against several other schools. Our proposal was selected as the winning design, and our plan was funded and implemented to support the Bahadur household.
This project taught me so much about teamwork, active listening, and problem-solving. Working alongside a large class of peers with diverse perspectives required us to constantly negotiate and seek middle ground, ensuring that every teammate’s voice was valued in the final strategy. Most importantly, this experience showed me how thoughtful, culturally conscious planning can directly empower communities that need support and create a real global impact.
COP28
One of my most unforgettable experiences was presenting at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). In the second challenge, we were charged with crafting a social media advocacy program that unites youth globally, educates the masses on climate change, and inspires sustainable actions. Together with four classmates, we presented our solution on a Zoom call broadcast at COP28. I took the lead on a significant portion of the presentation and the Q&A with the judges, which demanded quick thinking and a deep understanding of our mission to effectively address challenging questions. Ultimately, after all teams had presented, my team emerged victorious. That moment filled me with joy, and we celebrated the culmination of our hard work. This experience reinforced the power of teamwork and showed how collaboration and creative thinking can lead to innovative solutions.