Social Innovation Relay 2021 Competition
Junior Achievement Singapore and Nationale-Nederlanden (NN) cordially invite your students to JA Singapore’s 9th Social Innovation Relay (SIR) competition. The Social Innovation Relay, an initiative of Junior Achievement, is an online global competition that challenges 15 to 19 year old students to develop an innovative business concept that addresses a social need. SIR provides young people with the hands-on skills and entrepreneurial expertise needed to start a successful career through a combination of virtual and face-to-face mentoring by experienced executives.
The initiative developed by JA-YE Europe was started in 2010-2011, thus this year will the 11th year of the competition. This competition is specifically designed to increase access to entrepreneurship education and to boost the benefits associated with such education.
The best 20 teams are paired with business volunteers. The volunteers use the latest online learning tools to help students develop concept papers that can be turned into feasible business ideas.
Steps
The initiative developed by JA-YE Europe was started in 2010-2011, thus this year will the 11th year of the competition. This competition is specifically designed to increase access to entrepreneurship education and to boost the benefits associated with such education.
The best 20 teams are paired with business volunteers. The volunteers use the latest online learning tools to help students develop concept papers that can be turned into feasible business ideas.
Steps
Phases of the Competition
1. On-line Registration – https://tinyurl.com/SIR2021. After you register, we will email the template to you to submit your innovative idea.
2. Case Study Workshops - To enhance a better learning experience during the SIR competition, a workshop will be conducted by JA volunteers. Case studies will be presented during the workshop where existing and successful stories of social entrepreneurs will be discussed. The impact and the process of the social innovation are explained through the case studies.
3. Socially Innovative Idea - In teams of 2 to 4 students, they submit a Social Business Idea based on the template provided describing their social innovation solution to a societal challenge that they are addressing. The societal challenges can be in the areas of: education, health, social inclusion, livelihood development, and sustainability. Submit innovative ideas to [email protected]
4. Selection of Top 20 Ideas – Judges will evaluate and select the top 20 ideas within Singapore. These top 20 teams will proceed to the E-Mentorship Phase.
5. E-Mentorship Phase - Each of the top 20 teams chosen will be matched with a JA Volunteer E-Mentor. During this phase, students develop their ideas into a concept paper following the Social Business Idea Proposal Canvas provided with the help and support of their E-Mentors. E-mentoring can take place through Zoom, WebEx, Skype and emails.
6. National Final – Judges will review the top 20 teams’ concept papers (Social Business Idea Proposal Canvas) and then choose the top 10 teams to present their concept papers at the National Final. The teams will have to prepare and present a 2-minute video pitch of their social innovation too. One winning team is chosen to proceed to the Global On-line Final.
7. Global On-line Final - The Singapore winning team along with the national winning teams from 10 other countries will participate in the final phase of the competition.
Awards:
National Final - each member of the winning team and their teacher will be awarded with a tablet and a trophy. 2nd & 3rd place teams will receive trophies and Social Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship Books.
Global Final - The top 3 teams will participate in the virtual JA Global Alumni Conference in 2021.
Students Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the societal challenges we face
2. Be able to identify societal challenges in their environment.
3. Identify and use sources of information about existing social innovations and social entrepreneurs.
4. Develop and improve their ICT skills.
5. Develop an entrepreneurial mind-set.
6. Develop and improve the following skills:
2. Case Study Workshops - To enhance a better learning experience during the SIR competition, a workshop will be conducted by JA volunteers. Case studies will be presented during the workshop where existing and successful stories of social entrepreneurs will be discussed. The impact and the process of the social innovation are explained through the case studies.
3. Socially Innovative Idea - In teams of 2 to 4 students, they submit a Social Business Idea based on the template provided describing their social innovation solution to a societal challenge that they are addressing. The societal challenges can be in the areas of: education, health, social inclusion, livelihood development, and sustainability. Submit innovative ideas to [email protected]
4. Selection of Top 20 Ideas – Judges will evaluate and select the top 20 ideas within Singapore. These top 20 teams will proceed to the E-Mentorship Phase.
5. E-Mentorship Phase - Each of the top 20 teams chosen will be matched with a JA Volunteer E-Mentor. During this phase, students develop their ideas into a concept paper following the Social Business Idea Proposal Canvas provided with the help and support of their E-Mentors. E-mentoring can take place through Zoom, WebEx, Skype and emails.
6. National Final – Judges will review the top 20 teams’ concept papers (Social Business Idea Proposal Canvas) and then choose the top 10 teams to present their concept papers at the National Final. The teams will have to prepare and present a 2-minute video pitch of their social innovation too. One winning team is chosen to proceed to the Global On-line Final.
7. Global On-line Final - The Singapore winning team along with the national winning teams from 10 other countries will participate in the final phase of the competition.
Awards:
National Final - each member of the winning team and their teacher will be awarded with a tablet and a trophy. 2nd & 3rd place teams will receive trophies and Social Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship Books.
Global Final - The top 3 teams will participate in the virtual JA Global Alumni Conference in 2021.
Students Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the societal challenges we face
2. Be able to identify societal challenges in their environment.
3. Identify and use sources of information about existing social innovations and social entrepreneurs.
4. Develop and improve their ICT skills.
5. Develop an entrepreneurial mind-set.
6. Develop and improve the following skills:
- Hard work, dependability, and teamwork
- Communication, interpersonal, and social skills
- Presentation skills
- Gain self confidence
- Creative thinking
- Problem solving skills
Timeline
Time/Dates (2021) |
Activity |
Jan - Mar |
Conduct case study workshops |
27th Feb |
SIR Open Workshop #1 |
6th March |
SIR Open Workshop #2 |
20th March |
Deadline for teams to submit their Socially Innovative Idea |
27th March |
Top 20 teams selected and announced for the Mentorship Phase |
28th March - 1st May |
E-Mentoring Phase: students work together with the NN Volunteers on their concept paper |
1st May |
Teams submit their concept paper |
15th May |
Top 10 teams selected and announced for the National Final |
29th May |
National Final - top 10 teams present their concept paper; top winning team selected |
15th June |
Global On-line Final |
We are ecstatic that the 2017, 2018 and 2020 Global Competition Winners were from Singapore. Team Chaleur (2017) from St Joseph’s Institution and Team DynamITE (2018) from ITE College Central had memorable award trips to Prague, Czech Republic and Tallinn, Estonia, respectively. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, the 2020 JA Alumni Global Conference in Stockholm, Sweden was cancelled, thus no trip for Team Access from ITE College Central. We were also excited that we clinched 2nd place in the 2016 Global Competition with Team Intellias from River Valley High School winning laptops. We are looking forward to another Singapore Global winning team!
We hope you find the Social Innovation Relay a worthwhile competition and will support and encourage your students to participate. Team registration is via https://tinyurl.com/SIR2021. We will be in touch to schedule the case study workshop for your students.
For students whose schools that will not be scheduling a case study workshop in their schools, we will be holding 2 open workshops that you can sign up for (just sign up for one):
Open Workshop #1 - Saturday 27th February, 10am – 12pm (online via Zoom)
https://tinyurl.com/SIR-Workshop-1-27Feb2021
Open Workshop #2 - Saturday 6th March, 10am – 12pm (online via Zoom)
https://tinyurl.com/SIR-Workshop-2-6Mar2021
We hope you find the Social Innovation Relay a worthwhile competition and will support and encourage your students to participate. Team registration is via https://tinyurl.com/SIR2021. We will be in touch to schedule the case study workshop for your students.
For students whose schools that will not be scheduling a case study workshop in their schools, we will be holding 2 open workshops that you can sign up for (just sign up for one):
Open Workshop #1 - Saturday 27th February, 10am – 12pm (online via Zoom)
https://tinyurl.com/SIR-Workshop-1-27Feb2021
Open Workshop #2 - Saturday 6th March, 10am – 12pm (online via Zoom)
https://tinyurl.com/SIR-Workshop-2-6Mar2021
About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) is one of the largest global non-profit organizations dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own their economic success.
Through the delivery of cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, Junior Achievement effectively broadens the canvas of possibility for young people and enriches their ability to both engage in their own economic development as well as contribute to the strength of their families, communities and economies.
The 121 country JA Worldwide network is powered by over 400,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 10 million students around the world annually. In partnership with businesses and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. More information about JA is available at www.JAWorldwide.org.
About Nationale-Nederlanden’s (NN)
NN is an insurance and investment management company active in more than 18 countries, with a strong presence in a number of European countries and Japan. Our roots lie in the Netherlands, with a rich history that stretches back 170 years. NN offers retirement services, insurance, investments and banking products. Customers range from individuals and small and medium-sized companies to large corporate and institutional investors.
For further information about NN, please visit our website www.nn-group.com
Junior Achievement (JA) is one of the largest global non-profit organizations dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own their economic success.
Through the delivery of cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, Junior Achievement effectively broadens the canvas of possibility for young people and enriches their ability to both engage in their own economic development as well as contribute to the strength of their families, communities and economies.
The 121 country JA Worldwide network is powered by over 400,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 10 million students around the world annually. In partnership with businesses and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. More information about JA is available at www.JAWorldwide.org.
About Nationale-Nederlanden’s (NN)
NN is an insurance and investment management company active in more than 18 countries, with a strong presence in a number of European countries and Japan. Our roots lie in the Netherlands, with a rich history that stretches back 170 years. NN offers retirement services, insurance, investments and banking products. Customers range from individuals and small and medium-sized companies to large corporate and institutional investors.
For further information about NN, please visit our website www.nn-group.com