Get Involved with the Dopper Changemaker Challenge

Please note that we did not receive financial compensation for this post. We did, however, receive 4 of the fantastic reusable bottles from Dopper to help save the planet.

When I heard about the Dopper Challenge a couple of months back, I knew it was a fantastic idea. With the children now off school and so many parents trying to find ways to occupy them, this is something wonderful to get involved with and a way to help save the planet in a bid to try and quash the plastic problem currently affecting the world.

the dopper changemaker challenge

Back on the 13th January, the reusable bottle brand, Dopper, launched their Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior. It is an educational initiative which encourages children from the age of 8 to 12 to come up with ways in which they can reduce single-use plastics which has become a recognised issue all over the world.

Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior first took place in 2019 in the Netherlands and received over 15,000 entries! Building on the success of the 2019 Challenge, Dopper is now looking to explore the knowledge and determination of young changemakers across the world by launching the Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior across five countries – the aim being the same: to end plastic waste.

“We see that children already know a lot about this subject – and that they are indeed worried about the problem and how it is affecting the world. But they often lack the skills to undertake action themselves. So their curiosity is curbed. Children are the future and have genius ideas. That is why we are giving them the tools and know-how to not only educate them about the problem itself, but also empower them to be part of the solution”.

Anneke Hendriks, Senior Project Manager of Education & Impact Investment at Dopper

Why Children?

The challenge has proven that children hold the key to unlocking the best ideas for the future. Science has also shown that this target group should be taken more seriously, as children possess the ability to process information more rationally than adults and also hold the ability to truly think outside of the box.

Studies suggest that children are interested in relevant education that actively contributes to current societal issues. As they witness changes to their environment and the impact on the climate, they are passionate enough to take matters into their own hands.

The Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior perfectly accommodates this quest. The design competition – designed in collaboration with Designathon Works, a not-for-profit organisation that develops educational methods and materials – goes beyond the simple transfer of knowledge around the problem. The program predominantly focuses on the teaching of skills required to build a solution for an important environmental issue like plastic pollution.

How your children can enter

In January, children were able to enter as a team through their school but now it is also open to individuals via the Official website.

There they are supported through a host of materials to get their creative juices flowing. Once their ideas have been sketched out they are submitted for their chance to make it to the Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior Final!

15 selected finalists will then be invited to London and will build and present their ideas to an influential panel of judges.

The panellists will select their favourite design and the winning team will become the Dopper Junior Changemakers of 2020, PLUS, the winning prototype will be developed and showcased in a public space for all to see and admire.

Points to note

The original date for the finals was supposed to be in June BUT due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, they are looking to hold the final later in the year which gives you plenty of time to submit your entries.

Details for entry

For more information on the Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior please visit www.dopper.com/changemaker-challenge-junior#

Teachers and schools can NOW sign up to take part in the Dopper Changemaker Challenge Junior, here: https://dopper.com/changemaker-challenge-junior/teachers

Inidividual sign up is HERE: https://dopper.com/changemaker-challenge-junior/letsgetstarted

---

please pin this post