The Creatives for Our Future programme, which seeks to identify and accelerate the next generation of Pakistani and global creative leaders in sustainability, is now open for applications until 16th October 2024. The programme is run by the Swarovski Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnership and offers winners mentorship from industry leaders and a €20,000 fund.
The programme is open to young creatives worldwide, aged 21 to 30, from a multitude of disciplines including fashion, design, art, architecture, and engineering. Successful applicants should be working on an original project or product that uses the creative process to drive awareness, technology or solutions for sustainable development and drives progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations.
To date, the programme has supported 21 projects in innovative design, founded and initiated by young creatives, who have ground-breaking ideas for addressing the world’s sustainability and development challenges. The programme has enabled them to develop and scale their projects – either with funds to build on their research, or through mentorship and networking opportunities to unlock new directions.
The programme was crucial to the success of previous winners:
Namra Khalid (Pakistan) – Karachi Cartography
Namra Khalid is repatriating historic maps of Pakistan from Western countries to improve socio-climatic planning in her home country. Namra, founder of Karachi Cartography, was recognised for her efforts in finding innovative solutions to the acute impacts of climate change that Pakistan was facing, namely flooding and heatwaves.
Thanks to the funding the programme offered, as well as industry networking opportunities, Namra has collected over 1,500 maps for Karachi Cartography’s map repository and is expecting another 3,500 to be returned. She has also been able to create the first-ever conceptual map of Karachi’s pre-human environment, which will serve as a baseline for future environmental assessments and promote sustainable urban planning that will increase resilience against climate change.
M. Hassamuddin (Pakistan) – Air Con
Hassam’s innovative product, geo-Air Con, leverages stable temperatures underground to reduce the use of non-renewable energy to combat global warming. With the programme’s support, he has refined the product through multiple models and scaled it up for application in other sectors such as agriculture.
Jakhya Rahman-Corey, Director of the Swarovski Foundation said: “Now in its fourth year, we are excited to open applications to the Swarovski Foundation Creatives for Our Future programme and nurture the next generation of inspiring talent from Pakistan and globally.
“The Swarovski Foundation’s mission is to promote sustainable livelihoods through education to reduce inequality. With the Creatives for Our Future programme, we can harness this through young creative talent seeking to break innovative ground and spearhead new approaches and ideas in sustainable development.
“Having so far received more than 1500 applications from 92 countries, and supported 21 cohort members, it showcases that creativity has the power to solve global challenges and achieve sustainability goals. The Swarovski Foundation is looking forward to welcoming this year’s applications to turn their ideas into reality through access to education, resources, and a vital support network”.
Entries for this year’s programme are open from the 3rd September 2024 until 16th October 2024 (3:59 am PKT) at www.sfcreatives.org. Successful applicants will be notified and announced publicly in April 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
For more information, or for application submissions visit www.sfcreatives.org.
ABOUT THE SWAROVSKI FOUNDATION
Established in 2013, the Swarovski Foundation brings focus to Swarovski’s historical commitment to philanthropy by supporting charitable initiatives to achieve positive social and environmental impact whilst driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Its mission strives to promote sustainable livelihoods through education to reduce inequality by supporting initiatives that focus on Equity, Water, and Creativity, and through two signature programmes Waterschool and Creatives for Our Future. swarovskifoundation.org
ABOUT CREATIVES FOR OUR FUTURE
Creatives for Our Future builds on the Swarovski Foundation’s commitment to advance creative talent to drive positive change through collaborations addressing social and environmental issues. The cornerstone of the Swarovski Foundation’s work is the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations, in turn these goals are the anchor for Creatives for Our Future.
The programme leverages the Swarovski Foundation’s position to combine investment and education with a stakeholder network crossing borders and industries. It harnesses young creatives’ unique critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in this pivotal era. Creative expression is a vehicle for evolution – not only for concepts and products but also for changes in thinking and behaviour. To find out more, visit: sfcreatives.org
ABOUT UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PARTNERSHIPS
The United Nations Office for Partnerships is your global gateway to connect and co-create partnerships to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. UN Partnerships seeks to mobilize everyone, everywhere; demand ambition and accountability to act now to deliver the SDGs. UN Partnerships works globally, regionally and in countries—to transform the world through SDG partnerships—for people and for the planet.
ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. To find out more visit: sdgs.un.org/goals
