Goodwall and the 1851 Trust launch #PowerUp Challenge with Olympic gold medallists Sir Ben Ainslie and Hannah Mills to engage five million youth in STEM and Climate Education
Goodwall, leading youth social network for impact, and the 1851 Trust, a charity using sport inspired learning to educate and empower young people through STEM and climate education has collaborated to launch the #PowerUp Challenge. A global initiative using the excitement of elite sport to engage five million young people in climate action.
Harnessing the inspiration of Olympic gold medal-winning athletes like Hannah Mills and Sir Ben Ainslie, and the innovative mindset of teams like Emirates GBR SailGP, #PowerUp invites young people worldwide to explore how renewable energy is transforming high performance sports.
The #PowerUp Challenge delivers bite-sized content that’s easy to understand, engaging a global youth audience and educating them about the vital role clean energy plays. By connecting green energy concepts with real-world sports narratives, participants learn in ways that are thrilling, relatable and impactful. The aim is to ignite conversations around green solutions, educate young minds, and equip the next generation with the skills to tackle pressing climate challenges.
To enter participants will showcase their creativity and knowledge producing short videos, breaking down renewable energy concepts or highlighting real-world green innovations for the chance to win a grand cash prize, alongside runner up prizes of for the top ten entries. Teachers and schools can also bring the challenge into the classroom with a school pack designed to allow young people under 16 to participate, supported by free climate education resources on the 1851 Trust’s digital platform STEM Crew.
Key Aims of #PowerUp:
- Mobilise and inspire over 5 million youth in the first year
- Empower 150 million young people over the next three years through climate education
- Pave the way for 2 million Green STEM jobs by 2030
In collaboration as ‘Race for the Future Purpose Partner’ to Emirates GBR the 1851 Trust developed a library of free climate resources for 8–16-year-olds available on its digital education platform STEM Crew. Using the inspiration of athletes and global community of sport, these resources empower young people with the knowledge to take climate action, accelerating changes in behaviours and helping the next generation become the environmental problem solvers of the future. This initiative continues their joint mission to educate three million young people about the climate crisis by the end of the 2025 Season.
The #PowerUp Challenge will play a central role in the team’s submission for the Impact League, SailGP’s podium for the planet, a competition that runs alongside the on-water sailing championship and rewards teams for taking action to protect the planet and make sailing more inclusive. Key focus areas include: Zero Waste, Accelerating Inclusion, Climate Action and Breaking Boundaries for gender equality in sailing. In Season 4, the Emirates GBR SailGP Team claimed victory in the Impact League, and is now setting its sights on defending the title in the 2025 Season.
This challenge not only raises awareness but also connects young talent to real-world opportunities in the renewable energy sector, with Emirates GBR’s purpose partner Low Carbon offering mentorship opportunities to young people interested in green skill jobs. The renewable energy sector alone is expected to create 40 million new jobs by 2050, young people can register for this exciting opportunity by participating in the #PowerUp Challenge on the Goodwall App.
“Youth engagement is crucial for achieving a sustainable future, without enough STEM educated young people we will not meet our net zero goals globally. By making climate issues exciting, accessible, and actionable through sports, we’re building a global movement of young innovators ready to make a difference.” Sir Ben Ainslie, 1851 Trust Patron and CEO Emirates GBR.
Goodwall empowers youth to maximize their potential and impact society positively. “We’re inviting the world’s youth to discover the science behind renewable energy and how it’s fuelling world-class sports, all while showcasing the tangible career opportunities this sector offers.” Taha Bawa, Goodwall Co-Founder and CEO
How to Join #PowerUp Challenge
- Head to www.stemcrew.org/goodwall
- Download the Goodwall app (iOS/Android)
- Learn through bite-sized videos on renewable energy and athletes and sports teams who are reducing their impacts
- Create a 30–90 second video explaining or demonstrating a clean energy concept
- Share your video with #PowerUp and a caption about why renewable energy matters
One Grand Prize Winner $500
Ten runner up winners $200
All 11 winners will be invited to participate in a digital mentorship opportunity with Low Carbon, a company building renewable energy projects around the world.
Deadline for Entries is 22 June 2025.
All winning videos will be featured by the Emirates GBR SailGP team during the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth in July 2025.
Find out more : www.stemcrew.org/goodwall
