By Eunice Wangari

Recently, USIU-Africa hosted the 2025 SDG Summer School, bringing together young innovators from across the continent to collaborate, co-create, and develop practical solutions that address the various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The summer school aimed to provide a platform for reimagining solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The program also featured a selection process for the most promising solutions, which will compete at the SDG Olympiad Award Event, scheduled to take place on October 10-13, 2025.

This was an impactful journey of leadership, teamwork, and innovation that showcased USIU-Africa’s commitment to nurturing innovators and capable leaders who can solve global problems.

Sharing her experience, Clara Bernard Mushi, a Bachelor of Pharmacy student and a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, describes it as a life-changing experience, noting that it allowed her to network, build up confidence, and enhance her communication skills. As she recounts the experience, Clara explains that although teamwork can pose challenges, this program imparted essential qualities of patience, adaptability, and the importance of continuous learning, unlearning, and relearning.

“When I first stepped onto the USIU-Africa campus in 2022, I imagined my journey would be defined mainly by lectures, exams, and textbooks,” says Clara. “Little did I know, the real lessons awaited beyond the classroom - in teamwork, challenges, and daring to step outside my comfort zone,” she concludes.

Her team, Wetlands for Wellness, which sought to restore Ondiri Wetland by combining Indigenous Knowledge with nature-based solutions to improve climate resilience and public health, won first place. Clare was working alongside fellow students, Faith Chinaza and Samuel Mogire (USIU-Africa), and Kelvin Muli (Egerton University). Beyond the award, the team, with support from DiceTheLifeCoach, is currently expanding the project through citizen science, mentorship, and community training, with the aim of developing life skills and creating income opportunities for local youth. Furthermore, they are conducting research for publication with the intention of influencing policies that protect the Ondiri Wetland.

Reflecting on the experience, Clara noted that this journey has taught her that true success is not measured solely by awards or accolades but by growth, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward despite obstacles. “Together with my team, we transformed a vision into action and turned challenges into opportunities,’ she notes.

The second place went to Team AKIYEN, whose solution aimed at bridging climate and health communication gaps using localized, culturally relevant, and tech-driven tools. Named after the Turkana word for “knowledge,” team AKIYEN comprised of three USIU-Africa students, namely Jacob Yen Alier, Joyce Shabene, and Vanessa Sarah Nakibirango. In line with SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the team’s solution combines traditional knowledge, scientific forecasting, and community dialect to provide health and weather alerts through SMS, radio, and community social networks to residents of Turkana.

Jacob, a third-year Pharmacy student and also the team leader, shares that this summer school, in addition to giving birth to Akiyen, a project that now carries the dreams of thousands in Turkana, transformed his understanding of leadership, community, and innovation. Jacob notes that when he submitted his application for the 2025 SDG Summer School, he did not expect that the experience would be so life-changing, “I was just one young changemaker from South Sudan, passionate about sustainable development and community resilience,’ he states. He shares that with this solution now, Turkana residents, who are often marginalized, will no longer be excluded from conversations on resilience and adaptation.

The success of these two teams equally reflects some of the values that define USIU-Africa, such as academic excellence, innovation, and community impact. As these young innovators proceed to the SDG Olympiad award event, they are not only representing the university and nation but also serving as a reminder that when passion meets purpose, the possibilities are endless.

The SDG Olympiad is a global competition where students engage in SDG Innovation Events worldwide, developing data-driven solutions to accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).