Huawei, has today announced the winners of its Make It Possible Bursary – a £30,000 fund established to help the people of Great Britain pursue their dreams in 2018.
Juanita Agboola from Rochester has been named the overall winner of the competition, receiving a £20,000 cash prize which will go towards her dream of developing an app – Half Full Not Empty –
to help schools and university students improve their mental health. Huawei have also offered to support Juanita, in the development of the app through the concept, planning, prototype and launch phases.
Two runners-up have also been awarded £5,000 each, Brighton based Clare Griffiths, who plans to use the prize fund to launch Thrive! – a magazine for female business founders, while Jasmine Carey from Deptford, London will put the bursary towards developing her artisanal leatherwork business – Deco 22.
The ‘Make it Possible’ campaign was set up following a study from Huawei, which revealed that financial barriers prevent 57% of people from pursuing their ambitions. For a chance to win the cash prize, Huawei asked entrants to explain what dreams they would like to follow in 2018 – whether it be to start a business, run a community project, or develop a creative passion – in 500 words or less.Over 800 entries were received, which were judged by Andrew Garrihy, CMO Huawei Western Europe, Steven Bartlett, CEO and Founder of Social Chain, and Anthony Shintai Amo, winner of Huawei’s ‘Reveal the Real You’ photography competition.
To help the three finalists fully unlock their potential, each winner was also awarded a Huawei Mate 10 Pro device – the world’s first AI powered smartphone – to help them connect with people who share their passions and give them the technology they need to achieve their goals.
Andrew Garrihy commented: “Our Make It Possible Bursary has revealed just how much creative potential exists in the UK. The entries we received were truly inspirational, and while we cannot award everyone, we encourage every single entrant – in fact, everyone in the UK – to turn their dreams into a reality this year. At Huawei, we believe that technology has the power to make anything possible – which is why Juanita’s entry really impressed the judging panel. With more positive discussion around mental health and wellbeing, we hope that the development of this mobile app will help students across the UK to overcome the challenges they face, and follow their dreams too.”
Steven Bartlett, who partnered with Huawei for its ‘I am What I Do’ campaign, added: “Whether entrepreneurial, altruistic or creative, there’s no doubt that we are a nation brimming with serious ambition. It can be difficult to step outside of your comfort zone and follow your dreams, but with the level of technology, websites and apps at our fingertips, realising your true potential has never been more achievable.”
About the winners
Juanita Agboola
Taking the £20,000 prize, Juanita Agboola scored top marks for her ambition to use technology as a means to prevent the rise of poor mental health amongst Generation Z. The app – Half Full Not Empty – will provide students with the necessary resources to maintain a positive mental state, and book appointments with counsellors.
Juanita Agboola commented: “I am so unbelievably grateful for this opportunity. The development of Half Full Not Empty and impacting and encouraging others to live a mentally healthy life means the world to me and I’m thrilled Huawei is helping me take the project to the next level.”
Clare Griffiths
Clare Griffiths’ ambition to launch Thrive! – a publication that inspires, informs and supports female entrepreneurs in Brighton and beyond – seriously impressed the judges, awarding her a runner-up prize of £5,000. Packed with business resources, interviews and creative inspiration, the magazine aims to increase the startup and success rates of female-run businesses, and reduce the gender imbalance between male and female entrepreneurs.
Jasmine Carey
The ‘Make it Possible Bursary’ will also help Jasmine Carey’s dream to grow her leather craft business – Deco 22. Jasmine plans to use her £5,000 runner-up prize to experiment with new materials, learn new skills, create new product lines and launch an e-commerce store for the brand.
