De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) grade schoolers and their application concept named “BrainVentures” bagged the grand prize from Power Mac Center’s “emPOWER UP! Design a Better World: App Development Challenge” last January 12, 19 and 20, 2019.
Derek Joshua Altuna, Alexandria Jillian Braga, and Aniela Jenina Lesaca, collectively known as Team BrainVentures from DLSZ, bagged the grand prize with their proposed application entitled “BrainVentures,” an application putting the player through a series of activities with the help of a digital sidekick. This application aims to address the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education by integrating valuable lessons during gameplay. All group members received an iPad and exclusive training from Apple Certified Trainers to develop their application concept and upload it to Apple App Store.
Meanwhile, Cameron Sanz, Rebecca De Veyra, and Hannah Mallinlli, known as Team Earth Hero, created an app for Climate Action garnered the first runner-up price, with Php 45,000 worth of Power Mac Center gift certificates. Team Clean ‘Em All, composed of Kaia Mikayla Diola, Enrico Joaquin Abella, and Sofia Annika Ysabel Pagilagan, designed an app on Climate Action and Caring for Life Below Water and Life on Land which won them Php 30,000 worth of Power Mac Center gift certificates.
Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing, praised the ability of the younger generation in using technology.
“Kids nowadays are woke. They understand what’s happening, they know what’s needed, and they help create simple but impactful solutions. And because they’re digital natives, they know how to leverage technology to their advantage.” Alvarez said.
With the theme “Spark change with an app for the greater good,” Power Mac Center, in collaboration with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Hub of Innovation for Inclusion (HiFi), recently concluded the emPOWER UP challenge, an application developing contest for 10 to 15-year-old students, focusing on creating solutions to emerging issue of the community as stated by UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The contest was also in collaboration with KIDS CAN! Innovation Camp, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST Asia), Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, and I Am VR Panda.