Groups of students can apply for a share of $500 000 (around R7 million) in funding for innovative youth-led businesses, social movements or projects that help to address 10 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Several countries have signed on to the UN’s plan to create a better world by 2030. The goals centre on a sustainable future for people and the environment, and encompass 17 areas of international concern, from hunger to peace and justice.

To accelerate reaching these goals, some of the world’s leading businesses have come together to provide funding, and find and fast-track impactful, youth-led solutions for each SDG. This coalition of businesses is formed by One Young World and is called Lead2030.

The aim of the project is to build a generation of young leaders who are meaningfully engaged with ensuring the sustainability of the planet, its people and cultures.  

The 10 goals to achieve by 2030 that applicants are encouraged to address are:

• Ending hunger
• Fighting the growing burden of non-communicable disease worldwide
• Preparing young people with the skills to succeed
• Education: generating returns sustainably
• Achieving universal access to equitable sanitation and hygiene
• Increasing the share of renewable energy
• Reimagining solutions to finance the growth of SMEs and trade to unlock prosperity for the world’s communities
• Creating an inclusive workplace environment for the LGBTI community worldwide
• Turning landfill waste generated by the packaging industry into raw materials of inherent value
• Forming scalable partnerships to accelerate education, literacy and skills development
   

The closing date for applications is 5 January 2019. Apply at www.lead2030.com/challenges.