6 June 2025 - When Joseph Nguthiru got stuck in a boat due to invasive water hyacinth while on a class trip, he didn't just see an obstacle—he saw an opportunity. His company, HyaPak, now transforms this invasive species into biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics.

Joseph is one of 10 young innovators who are proving that vision, determination and ingenuity can create powerful solutions to complex issues facing communities worldwide. These changemakers were recently spotlighted at the United Nations 10th Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for their groundbreaking approaches to sustainable development. Get to know some of the young leaders turning personal experiences into powerful initiatives moving us closer to the Global Goals.

From waste to well-being

One of the hallmarks of the group is reimagining waste as resources. Joseph and his fellow engineering classmates didn't waste any time.

Together, they harvested the water hyacinth for their final year engineering project and HyaPak was born. Through products like their signature biodegradable seedling bag, more than 20 hectares of the invasive plant have been cleared from vital waterways. The initiative also advances sustainable livelihoods for both agricultural and fishing communities by offering planet-friendly equipment and removing the harmful species from the ecosystem.

"My inspiration stems from the desire to solve the challenges we face," Joseph explained. "It is up to us to determine how best we can use our resources, skills and knowledge to create solutions."

In a similar vein, Lennox Ommondi's EcoBana tackles both period poverty and environmental degradation through biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fibers. The innovation provides affordable, eco-friendly menstrual products to underserved Kenyan communities, enhancing access to education and economic opportunities for women and girls.

"By repurposing agricultural waste, we promote a circular economy," Lennox said. "Conventional pads are 90 per cent plastic and contribute significantly to landfill methane emissions. Our pads are compostable, hypoallergenic and retail at just 75 KSh (.58 USD), making them accessible to those who need them most."

EcoBana's partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Education have amplified its impact, resulting in reduced school absenteeism. Their scalable model, now expanding to other East African countries, demonstrates how sustainable innovation can drive both climate resilience and gender equity.

In Southeast Asia, Willie Ng of Global Cerah is focused on replacing landfills by utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology to convert organic waste into feeds and fertilizers.

In a subregion known for high levels of waste, Willie knows that our planet’s health is at stake.  “The future of innovation for sustainable development lies in creating inclusive, low-carbon solutions that work with nature—not against it,” he said.

The company's approach has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tonnes while providing farmers with eco-friendly, sustainable inputs that improve soil health. By lowering production costs through their subsidy programme, Global Cerah enhances farmers' financial resilience and ability to invest in climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Sowing seeds of resilience

As part of the broader movement for environmental solutions, young innovators are also addressing food security by supporting smallholder farmers and local economies.

Lilan Dayananda's innovation journey began during Sri Lanka's agricultural crisis, when a nationwide ban on synthetic fertilizers devastated crop yields. After visiting over 50,000 farmers, Lilan established Elzian Agro, developing IoT-based monitoring and automation systems specifically for smallholder farmers with less than five acres of land.

"Witnessing this devastation firsthand deeply moved me," Dayananda recalls. "I realized how climate change, poor resource management and lack of real-time soil data were compounding their struggles."

Elzian Agro's solutions have increased yields by over 7 per cent and reduced production costs by 15-20 per cent, reaching over 100,000 farmers across 22 countries.

Similarly, Addisu Fekadu Andeta is revitalizing Indigenous food systems by introducing labour-saving processing machines and starter cultures for enset, a traditional crop. His innovation has reduced food loss by over 30 per cent while significantly decreasing women's workload in enset-growing communities.

"I was inspired by the daily struggles I witnessed, particularly the physical burden on women and the high post-harvest losses due to traditional fermentation," says Addisu.

Enset may not be well known globally, but it’s a lifeline for millions in Ethiopia. And Addisu sees global potential: “By transforming enset into a commercially viable, gluten-free, organic food, we create decent jobs, support climate-resilient agriculture and ensure nutritious food access.”

Innovation with social impact

To many young changemakers, innovation isn't just about technology—it’s about solving problems rooted in lived experience and social realities. From mental health to social justice, they’re building solutions that reflect empathy and inclusion.

For Jin Dawod, a Syrian refugee who experienced displacement firsthand, personal trauma became the catalyst for creating Peace Therapist, a platform providing free, multilingual and culturally sensitive mental health support to marginalized communities.

"My journey began from personal pain," shared Jin. "That pain became my purpose.”

In emergencies, vulnerable groups like refugees are the most left behind, facing long-term psychological distress alone and without resources. Peace Therapist has helped normalize conversations about mental health in communities where it was once taboo.

“By combining human empathy with technology, we are creating an ecosystem where healing is a right, not a privilege,” she stressed.

Lucy Etoa Mbarga's Sentinel Forensics (SFL) addresses another critical social justice issue: sexual assault cases in Nigeria that end without conviction due to the absence of reliable forensic evidence.

"We recognized early on that survivors were being failed by systemic deficiencies within law enforcement agencies and the courts," Lucy explained. “This reality became a call to action for us.”

SFL developed cost-effective evidence preservation kits suitable for resource-limited settings, including a novel room-temperature preservation medium that maintains biological sample integrity without refrigeration. These kits have been distributed at no charge to 90 per cent of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Nigeria.

What she is most proud of is seeing tangible improvements in the handling of sexual assault evidence and promoting access to justice. The kits have received positive responses from both frontline responders and forensic practitioners, who commended the practicality, ease of use and adaptability.

Innovation against the odds

Despite their diverse focus areas, these young innovators share common challenges: limited access to early-stage funding, skepticism toward youth-led initiatives and lack of institutional support.

Reflecting on these setbacks when initially prototyping his innovations, Addisu was able to overcome them through "persistence, local collaboration and a focus on practical, scalable solutions that helped us turn barriers into breakthroughs.”

For Lilan, launching Elzian Agro amid Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis was a “trial by fire”. In his early days, he recalls, "Fuel shortages, power cuts, and outdated policies made fieldwork and tech deployment nearly impossible. As a student entrepreneur with no capital or mentorship, I had to find other ways forward.”

To overcome these obstacles, these innovators have demonstrated remarkable resilience. They've secured small grants, built strategic partnerships, leveraged technology and remained deeply connected to the communities they serve. They have never stopped learning and training others about their expertise, spending countless hours upskilling and developing innovative training modules.

A call for inclusive innovation

These young leaders have a clear message for global decision-makers: meaningful change requires inclusive innovation and investments in local solutions.

"Innovation without inclusion is incomplete," said Jin. "Sustainable development demands that we not only build new solutions but also transform the systems that keep people excluded."

Lennox added, "By collaborating with women and refugee communities, we foster social inclusion, ensuring marginalized groups benefit from our value chain. Our commitment to creating 100 green jobs by 2026 ensures long-term economic and environmental sustainability."

These innovators exemplify a new approach to sustainable development—one that is locally rooted yet globally minded, technologically savvy yet deeply human-centered. By addressing our biggest problems, they’re not just creating products or services—they're fostering systems change on our path to the Sustainable Development Goals and a better future.

Learn more about the 10 innovators: https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/STIForum2025#innovations

Hear an interview from Jin: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2025/05/1163066