OD Impact Challenge

Calling all changemakers!

Are you 18-30 years? 

Do you have a project that is solving a problem and improving the lives of others? Enter the challenge for the chance to win cash prizes, mentoring, tailored training, access to more funding, honorary membership in an exclusive network and much more.

The OD Impact Challenge seeks to recognize and support the efforts of young change-makers working to bring positive change to their communities while projecting and highlighting the impact opportunitydesk.org is making in the lives of people worldwide.

Deadline: December 10, 2023

How It Works​

The competition is simple, it challenges participants to answer three main questions in 60 seconds:

  1. What are you doing to bring positive change to your community? Tell us the problem you are solving and how it is making a difference.
  2. How is OD making an impact in your life?
  3. How will the prizes help you if you win?
Prizes
Winners will be selected based on the Judge’s criteria and support from OD users.

1st Place

– Cash prize of $500

– Certificate of recognition

– Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grants of up to $2500

– Exclusive media feature as OD Young Person of the Month

– Automatic admission into the Savvy program

– Honorary membership in the Meaningful Business Program and lifelong access to the network

– Automatic admission into the Connecting Dreams’ Global Changemakers Fellowship

– Access to High tier courses within the Ideation Hub’s Social Innovation School

– Exclusive ticket access to Ideation Hub’s The Development Dialogue

– Personalised mentoring with the CEOs of Opportunity Desk and Savvy Fellows

– Media feature across OD partner networks

2nd Place

– Cash prize of $300

– Certificate of recognition

– Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grants of up to $2500

– Exclusive media feature as OD Young Person of the Month

– Automatic admission into the Savvy program

– Honorary membership in the Meaningful Business Program and lifelong access to the network

– Automatic admission into the Connecting Dreams’ Global Changemakers Fellowship

– Access to High tier courses within the Ideation Hub’s Social Innovation School

– Exclusive ticket access to Ideation Hub’s The Development Dialogue

– Personalised mentoring with the CEOs of Opportunity Desk and Savvy Fellows

– Media feature across OD partner networks

3rd Place

– Cash prize of $200

– Certificate of recognition

– Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grants of up to $2500

– Exclusive media feature as OD Young Person of the Month

– Automatic admission into the Savvy program

– Honorary membership in the Meaningful Business Program and lifelong access to the network

– Automatic admission into the Connecting Dreams’ Global Changemakers Fellowship

– Access to High tier courses within the Ideation Hub’s Social Innovation School

– Exclusive ticket access to Ideation Hub’s The Development Dialogue

– Personalised mentoring with the CEOs of Opportunity Desk and Savvy Fellows

– Media feature across OD partner networks

Top 12

– Certificate of recognition

– Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grants of up to $2500

– Exclusive media feature as OD Young Person of the Month

– Automatic admission into the Savvy program

– Automatic admission into the Connecting Dreams’ Global Changemakers Fellowship

– Access to High tier courses within the Ideation Hub’s Social Innovation School

– Personalised mentoring with the CEOs of Opportunity Desk and Savvy Fellows

Top 30 Under 30

Exclusive Listing as OD Impact Challenge 30 under 30 Changemakers

Automatic admission into the Savvy program

Admission into the Global Changemakers Fellowship

Certificate of recognition

Eligibility

Who can apply?

This global competition is open to changemakers around the world between 18 and 30 years who are actively solving a problem and improving the lives of others in their community.

FAQs

The OD Impact Challenge is a global competition that seeks to recognize and support efforts of young changemakers working to bring positive change to their communities, while projecting and highlighting the impact OpportunityDesk.org (OD) is making in the lives of people worldwide. This year’s challenge is organized in partnership with Vantage Migration and media partners.

The competition is simple – ODIC challenges participants to answer two main questions in 60 seconds:

  1. What are you doing to bring positive change to your community? Tell us the problem you are solving and how it is making a difference.
  2. How is OD making an impact in your life?

The top three winners will share a cash prize of $1000 in addition to:

– Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grant of up $2500

– Honorary membership in the Meaningful Business Program and lifelong access to the network.

– Exclusive media feature as OD Young Person of the Month

– Automatic admission into the Savvy program

– Admission into the Connecting Dreams’ Global Changemaker Fellowship

– Exclusive access to the Development Dialogue Conference

– Access to High tier courses within the Social Innovation School

– Personalised mentoring with the CEOs of Opportunity Desk and Savvy Fellows

– Media feature across OD partner networks

– Top 30 winners will be featured as OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemakers, receive a certificate of recognition and be featured on our website, social media pages and our partners’ websites.

This global competition is open to changemakers around the world between 18 and 30 years who are actively solving a problem and improving the lives of others in their community.

– Participants between 18 and 30 years from any nationality are welcomed to apply.

– Participants should be active Opportunity Desk users:- You are a fan or follower on our social media pages:- Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Telegram and you must be subscribed to our Newsletter.

– You are actively engaged in your community and you have at least 1 year track record of impact either as an individual, employee or entrepreneur.

– There is no entry fee.

– OD partners, mentors, staff, and past winners (top 3 winners) are not eligible to apply.

Opportunity Desk takes no responsibility in applications incorrectly submitted.

The jury, made up of social change leaders and impact drivers will carefully select finalists and winners based on the following criteria:

1. Innovation

2. Project Impact in Community

3. Sustainability

– There is no entry fee

– Video submissions must be original, unpublished work by the contestant and cannot infringe upon any copyright laws. The contestant must be the sole author of all entries and hold full rights to them. Videos that have won awards in other competitions are not eligible to enter;

– Videos can be made in any language. However, non-English videos must be subtitled in English Language.

– By entering the contest, video submitters are deemed to have agreed to the use of their videos in OD promotional material;

– The organizers reserve the right to remove and disqualify submitted videos which may cause offence or may be deemed unsuitable or inappropriate for this contest;

– The contestant must have received permission from the subject(s) used in the video. Videos that violate the rights of those depicted or put people at risk will not be considered by the judges;

Opportunity Desk can take no responsibility for entries that are incorrectly or incompletely submitted.

Applications open: Monday, November 20, 2023 

Applications close: December 10, 2023 (11:59pm WAT)

Top 12 Finalists will be announced on Friday, December 25, 2023.

Voting takes place between December 25 and 28, where the public can show support for their favourite finalists.

Winners are announced on Opportunitydesk.org on Friday, December 29 and also on our partner networks.

Prizes distributed between January 2024 and May 2024.

  • Step 1: Make a 60-second video telling us:
    1. your name and country;
    2. what you are doing to bring positive change to your community;
    3. How winning the challenge will help you and your work

      You don’t need a sophisticated camera to do this. You can use your smartphone in landscape mode. Just ensure we can see and hear you clearly. Be creative too.

  • Step 2: Post your video to your social media page: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. using the hashtags: #ODImpactChallenge #ODIC2023.
  • Step 3: Complete the online application here before December 10, 2023.
  • Step 4: Prepare for voting. Top 12 finalists will be contacted and provided with a link to the voting page.

NOTE:

Before you apply, follow @opportunitydesk on all social media platforms. Make sure you tag #ODImpactChallenge #ODIC2023 in your video post or your entry would not be considered.

What Past Winners say
"I heard about Opportunity Desk from my friends and fellow volunteers, and after getting accepted into the Millennium Fellowship I turned on my notifications for OD on all social media platforms. I applied for the OD Impact Challenge last year and emerged second place which was a very remarkable experience for me. The cash prize and media features really helped my project and I went on to win the Global Changemakers Grant and was selected for participate in the Youth Summit in South Africa on a fully funded trip. I'm so grateful for all the doors winning ODIC has opened for me."
Clinton Okechukwu
2022 ODIC Runner-up
"I came into contact with Opportunity Desk on my quest of researching online to identify some organization with like minds of our on-going project. When I received an email telling me that I had qualified for the 30 under 30 changemaker, I was very excited and I felt that our project we used to apply has the impact on the society. Since then, taking advantage of the exposure that I received, I've been able to travel to the Eastern part of my country to train about 75 youth to acquire a skill in shoe making. Also, our project being awarded Africa Green Ambassador Award with was held in Nigeria by ACERPIN."
Peter Anowie
2022 ODIC Finalist
"Receiving the email that informed me that I had been selected as a changemaker under 30 was an incredibly moving moment for me. Currently, I am working on a project to help internal refugees integrate socially and professionally into their new place of life by providing them with training, skills and employment opportunities and the publicity I got from being an ODIC finalist has really helped me in this regard. Being a member of the Opportunity Desk community has allowed me to meet many other young entrepreneurs who share my passion for social impact."
Nyake Yvette Cathy
2022 ODIC Finalist
"The experience with Opportunity Desk has been enlightening and motivating. Seeing an acquaintance, Stanley Anigbogu, achieve recognition as the changemaker of the month inspired me to apply for the OD Impact Challenge. Being selected as a 30 under 30 Changemaker was a momentous occasion for me. I felt a profound sense of accomplishment and recognition for the work I've dedicated myself to. It was not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the potential for positive change that lies within each of us."
Aaron Elekwachi
2022 ODIC Finalist
"I've been connected to Opportunity Desk for nothing less than 5 years and my experience with the platform has been nothing less than remarkable. I applied for in 2022 and emerged as one of the Top 12 finalists which was incredible recognition for my work. This gave me the opportunity to apply for the Global Changemakers Grant which I won. This provided much needed funding for my project. The platform's consistent efforts have empowered me to break barriers and dare to pursue paths that I might not have considered otherwise."
Anne Obize
2022 ODIC Finalist
"The O.D. Impact Challenge changed everything since it made my Innovation and I more visible. After seeing my "story of change," many people got in touch with me and wanted to work and partner with me. What struck me the most was how much my impact record inspired other young people. Much more than the prize, I was poised to do more, to raise the bar even higher; following ODIC, I went on to win the FMN prize for Innovation, emerging Top3 at N.C.D.M.B. Science Technology Innovation Challenge, and I am now a member of the Top 3% Africa's talent in Innovation. I was motivated to accomplish more and set the bar even higher."
Smart Israel
2021 ODIC Finalist
"The OD Impact Challenge exposed me and my venture to a vast array of opportunities. After winning the challenge, it was like everything fell into place. It's been one success to another; one milestone to another. So many amazing people reached out to me for collaboration and partnership, especially after being featured as the OD Young Person of the Month, which comes as a reward for winning the Challenge. Apart from the cash prize reward, the Challenge offers much more than prize money. It offers mentorship and resources that will be super beneficial to the growth of your venture."
Chidi Nwaogu
2018 ODIC Winner
"In 2021, I was privileged to emerge as the 3rd place winner of the OD Impact Challenge. This was the first time that my social impact works at The R.E.T.I.N.A Initiative will be recognized. And this wouldn't have been possible without the collective effort of my exceptional team members. So far, the opportunity has increased our visibility to more sponsorships and collaborations. I still look back at my digital footprints on Google to see the spotlight interviews that I benefited from the ODIC. This gives me so much satisfaction. I am grateful for the fantastic team behind opportunitydesk.org as every individual is now a family. Thank you for all you do.."
Babatunde Bale
2021 ODIC Finalist
"The OD impact challenge for me as a chemist is a platform of recognition for my hard work both in the lab and in the community. I felt happy and appreciated being featured as the OD Young Person of the Month and interviewed exclusively by Cynthia Untamed on Youtube. The overall exposure I received as the second winner has given me strong validation as a scientist, and in fact, I was later awarded as a High-Achieving Youth by the Ministry of Youth and Sport in Aceh, Indonesia. This further motivates me to keep my path in science and carry out impactful research."
Muhammad Iqhrammullah
2021 ODIC Finalist

Are you ready to go global? Do not miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Deadline: Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 11:59pm WAT

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