Tech Products for Good - Young People creating solutions to everyday problems
What makes our programme unique in many ways is that we create space for young people to work on projects that really truly matter to them.
When we first started Apps for Good, over 10 years ago, we had no idea what types of subjects that our students would choose to tackle.
We were more than pleasantly surprised. Each year we have been blown away by the compassion that these young people have shown when selecting the topics for their projects. Over the years we’ve seen projects that covered mental health, healthy eating, environmental issues, online safety, and education.
We’ve helped over 200,000 students through our courses, and we’ve lost count of the number of brilliant projects we’ve seen over the years. It's in the tens of thousands at least. Anyone that’s had something to do with Apps for Good has a completely different favourite, we’ve chosen a few here that we think were particularly impressive, although the list could go on and on.
Transit - Central Foundation Girls School, Tower Hamlets - 2011
Transit is a Bengali to English translation app, the team designed it specifically to help parents communicate with their child’s teachers at parents evening. The app was created by Mohima, Shanaz, Siddiquea and Sayema. Mohima went on to become an Apps for Good fellow and sits on our board.
When asked about the course in 2013 by Wired Magazine, Mohima said “There's always room for people to make something. It's not just for middle-class kids. We know more about what could help people in our communities than a bunch of middle-aged men in an office.”
I'm Okay - Stratford Girls’ Grammar School - 2014
For young people exploring sexuality and gender: read real-life stories from people who've been there plus resources and support services. The app was created by Alex, Emily, Josie and Katie. The team were surprised to find there wasn’t an app out there to support young people exploring sexuality and gender. I’m Okay acts as a guide, with stories from people who’ve been there and links to helplines, resources, and explanations of terminology.
I'm Okay won the Information category supported by Thomson Reuters at our annual awards that year. As an Apps for Good Awards winner, the team worked with development agency Codeten to have their app built professionally and launched on to the market, with the support of Apps for Good and Thomson Reuters.
Safestep - Dunoon High School - 2017
SafeStep created by Rory, Olivia, Abbi and Caleb is a range of ‘smart rugs’ for the home which have inbuilt pressure sensors that can decipher whether the user is standing on the rug or has fallen on it. SafeStep includes a bedside rug that when stood on will automatically switch on lights in the bedroom, hallway and bathroom. Reducing the risk of elderly users falling and hurting themselves during the night.
If the rug senses that someone has fallen then a carer is notified on the SafeStep app and the carer can make contact to make sure everything is okay.
Allergy Basket - Westfields Junior School, Yateley - 2016
Allergy Basket helps people keep track of the allergy-free foods their family can eat by allowing them to create shopping lists by scanning barcodes. The app was created by Charley, Eddie, Keir and Sam, inspired by their friend that couldn’t come to play dates because of their allergies.
The app won the Productivity category, supported by SAP at the Apps for Good Awards 2016.
“Our favourite part was meeting and working with experts and the development agency, both via Skype and in their offices. It was really fun working with them to make our app a reality.”
Cattle Manager - Wick High School - 2013
Do away with the mountain of paperwork that comes with looking after a herd. Cattle Manager lets you read and add information about each of your cows as you go around the farm. Cattle Manager was created by John, Keiran and Ryan. One team member, John, comes from a long line of farmers and helps with his family’s herd. Together the team came up with an app idea that solves the problem of farmers wasting time and energy on paperwork.
Cattle Manager was developed as part of the Apps for Good programme and won the “Power to do More - getting the most from your time” category supported sponsored by Dell at the Apps for Good Awards 2013. As an Apps for Good Award winner, the team worked with development agency Novoda to have their app prototype built professionally and publicly launched, with the support of Apps for Good and Dell.
Changes - Coleridge Primary School - 2016
Changes helps young girls go through puberty with more confidence. The app was created by Bea, Fizzy, Joss, Leila and Mia all primary school students. Helping them feel more comfortable to speak with parents about the changes they are going through. They hoped it will help girls make sense of what's happening to their body rather than feeling scared. The app won the People’s Choice Award, supported by EE, at the Apps for Good Awards 2016.
“Winning was such an amazing moment, obviously but the Marketplace at the Apps for Good Awards was great fun. We felt so professional with our big pitch boards showing our app and meeting important business people and selling our idea. Everyone was so friendly and interested.”
epiCpen - Dunoon Grammar School - 2020
epiCpen was created by Jaydon, James, Ross and Ruaridh from Dunoon Grammar School in Scotland. They took part in 2020’s virtual awards with their IoT device which enables people with allergies to get the help they need with automatic alerts and location identification via what3words.
The team took part in our Scottish events and finished their project from home - becoming winners of The Future Technologist’s category sponsored BNY Mellon.
We are celebrating a decade of Apps for Good, if you enjoyed this we have lots more for you to explore on our 10 years page, and here on our blog.