NFP App Program Empowers Youth

An app development program that aims to empower young people to use technology as a tool for positive social change has been launched by the Foundation for Young Australians and Samsung Electronics Australia.

The program, called Adappt, was co-created by FYA and Samsung to encourage Australians aged 12 to 25 to discover how creative thinking, problem solving, entrepreneurship and technology can come together to help create social change.

With 75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations requiring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills and knowledge, according to the Australian Industry Group, Adappt was made to inspire young people to build an interest in these areas and to pursue skills required by an increasing number of industries.

Adappt Academy is a seven-part video tutorial series using web-based learning to educate young people on the app development process, from ideation to prototype.

The academy challenges participants to harness the power of technology to design apps with a positive social impact. The online resource teaches skills in creative problem-solving, human-centered design and entrepreneurial, socially-driven thinking.

To encourage participation, FYA is calling on young Australians to take part in its Big Idea competition. Young people are invited to submit a Big Idea for an app to change the world, which responds to a local, national or global social or environmental issue. Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm on 31 October 2014.

Australians are invited to vote for their favourite app idea and five designs will be selected to be developed  with participants also receiving selected Samsung products, mentoring and invitations to events to help increase their networks.

CEO of FYA Jan Owen said Adappt was created to teach young Australians tangible skills within a real-world context.

“Adappt is about opening young Australians’ eyes to how technology can be used to make their world a better place. The Academy has been created to provide digital natives with skills and advice to help encourage social change through technology,” Owen said.

Arno Lenior, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics Australia said the program was also designed to engage and up-skill young Australians in technology to help open up new career pathways and increase employability.

“It’s important that we encourage young Australians to get excited about the creativity and entrepreneurial mindset that technology offers and to help encourage interest in subjects like technology and maths,” Lenior said.

“By providing a platform for young Australians to learn new skills while making a positive impact on their communities, it’s our hope that we help to activate the next generation of socially-driven forward-thinkers and entrepreneurs.”

Adappt Academy was established following a successful pilot program in 2013.

Natalie Rae, one of a group of three young women behind 2013 winning app entry ‘Hey Buddy’ said Adappt helped her identify how technology and app development play a part in areas that she is passionate about.

"Without technology, we’re only seeing the world as half of what it can be. But once you begin to dream with technology, you can bring into being the fullness of your ‘Big Idea” or the “good” that you want to see and its potential impact. And that’s the essence of Adappt," Rae said.

Adappt is one of three programs that have been developed as part of Samsung and the Foundation for Young Australians three-year strategic partnership to help improve student engagement and connection with Australian communities.

More information can be found here.