The Young Champion Challenge
In 2025, Egypt and the Netherlands celebrate 50 years of cooperation in the water sector. To mark this milestone, the Partners for Water Programme (RVO), in partnership with the Wavemakers United Foundation and Wave of Egypt, proudly launch the Young Champion Challenge 2025.
Submission open: 13 October 2025
Submission closing: 15 November 2025
The challenge
This international initiative invites passionate students and young innovators from Egypt and the Netherlands to design and present climate-smart, tech-enabled solutions across the fields of Water, Energy, Food, Climate (WEFC), and AI for Sustainability.
Selected participants will engage in an inspiring program that includes awareness campaigns, expert masterclasses, innovation sprints, and an international bootcamp—culminating in a final pitch at Cairo Water Week 2026 and potential representation at the UN Water Conference 2026 in the UAE.
Why Join?
- Develop and present innovative ideas that tackle real global challenges.
- Collaborate with peers from Egypt and the Netherlands in cross-cultural teams.
- Receive mentorship and exposure to international experts and investors.
- Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 6, 7, 13, and 17).
Regulations and Guidelines
- Open to secondary and high school students, university students, recent graduates, and young professionals aged 14–24.
- Applicants must be based in Egypt or the Netherlands.
- Selected participants must commit to all challenge phases (Oct 2025 – Dec 2026).
- Active participation in online and in-person activities is required.
- Applicants may apply individually or as a team.
- Cross-national teams (Egyptian–Dutch) will be formed during the program.
Solutions must address at least one of the following themes:
- Smart Agriculture
- Sustainable Coastal Management
- Water, Hygiene Promotion, and Sanitation (WASH)
- Climate Resilience and Adaptive Communities
- Emerging Digital Technologies in Water and Agriculture
Proposals should be original, feasible, and scalable.
- The working language of the challenge is English.
- Participants are expected to show professionalism, respect, and inclusivity.
- Any form of plagiarism, misconduct, or non-compliance may result in disqualification.
- Ideas remain the property of participants.
- By joining, participants agree to share their concepts for public presentation and potential collaboration.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- The decision of the organizing committee is final.