|
|
1ST PLACE WINNERS:
Green Days Malik Sylla, Veronica Yung, Erika Uzoegwu, Frank Li, Sebastian Steven (Mentor) The winning team's idea had a mission of “bridging the gap between low-income youth and quality green space while fostering a long term relationship between the kids and the outdoors.” Green space offers extensive benefits, and for children living in low-income communities, these benefits are even more pronounced. In these areas, often there are fewer green spaces than higher-income communities. Children would be brought to these areas, as regular field trips, with the goal of building a long-lasting love for nature.
|
|
RUNNER-UP:
Community Flyers Sydney Pedari, Nura Salsal, Tasha Burhunduli, Lexi Armstrong, Sara Berkes (Mentor) The team's idea focused on a program that was aimed at creating inclusivity for individuals who live in community housing around the Strathcona Park area. Their goal was to encourage individuals to interact by means of a community bird-watching program. This innovation has the goal of improving social connectivity and encouraging time spent outdoors.
|
|
|
|
RUNNER-UP:
Flowers for Hope Laure Saphira Bijoux, Amrita Bhattacharyya, Margaret Hanna, Xiaoduo Lin, Sofia Parra, Alina Satfutdinova (Mentor) This student team had a goal of creating a program to help youth reap the benefits of gardening. This program would be run within rehabilitation centers for terminally ill children. Each child would have the ability to choose a flower and receive an upcycled gardening kit. This would help them create a plant wall display, and help improve their feelings of accomplishment.
|
|
Green Hospital
Braden Hayes, Carrie Cho, Drake McGillvray, Nathan Gomes, Tejas Kokatnur, Brianna Jennings (Mentor) This team proposed building green spaces in local hospitals. Green spaces have been proved to improve various aspects of one’s physical health and can help addicts recover. These spaces can also help to speed up patient recovery and can assist healthcare workers with burnout. Team two also found that green spaces in health care spaces can also help reduce hospital costs, like heating and electricity. This initiative has a goal of helping various aspects of healthcare facilities to help with community and patient wellbeing.
|
|
|
|
Health Dome
Jana El-Mohtadi, Kareena Ajith, Suhaylah Carim Bacor, Duncan Spencer (Mentor) “Why might people not use green spaces?” Studies have found that green spaces can improve one's mental wellbeing. However, many aspects include time accessibility and seasons.
Health Dome is a biodome inspired by similar spaces in the United Kingdom and Montreal. By building this in highly populated locations in Ottawa, the team planned to create a free, safe space for all individuals to enjoy. The biodome will be a hub in the city for workshops, quiet spaces, and physical activities. “It is a place where people can come to relax, walk and improve their mental health.” |
|
Nature and Nurture
Shona Williams, Alexis St. Pierre, Nura Hashi, Jordyn Burnett, Niyati Mistry, Tarini Jayaprakash, Ari Williams (Mentor) This team focused on individuals who are the primary caregiver in their household. They asked “how might we increase access to and tailor urban greenspaces, in service to caregivers of lower-income communities during the covid-19 pandemic, in a way that positively influences the biodiversity of the space?”
Their goal was to create a community garden to help caregivers and individuals in a community, by helping to build social interactions. The garden would help to support the environment, combat food insecurity, help to nurture caregivers and community members. |
|
2022 Challenge Resources: