UNLEASH Innovation Lab

About UNLEASH

UNLEASH is a nonprofit powerhouse on a mission to accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mobilizing young changemakers from around the world. They gather top talents (18â€“35 years old) for immersive Innovation Labs and regional programs, faster than think tanks, more dynamic than lectures, where diverse youth co-create scalable, real-world solutions.

The labs don't just generate ideas, they plug participants into a global ecosystem of mentors, investors, NGOs, and governments ready to support launch and scale. Since the first lab in Copenhagen in 2017, UNLEASH has held global and regional Innovation Labs, from Singapore and China to Greenland and Rwanda, engaged thousands of young leaders, and launched hundreds of impactful SDG-focused projects.

Kigali Innovation Lab Experience

In December 2023, I joined the UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab in Kigali, Rwanda, as one of 1,000 young talents selected from around the world. I was placed in the Climate and Land track, where I collaborated with an incredible team from Colombia, The Gambia, the United States, Pakistan, and Iceland.

Together, we developed PappyBags, a sustainable solution to replace single-use plastic bags in South Sudan by using locally abundant papyrus reeds to create reusable tote bags. Our innovation aimed to address both environmental pollution and economic empowerment, turning an underutilized natural resource into a source of income for communities.

PappyBags Innovation Project

Climate and Land Track

Our team developed an innovative solution that addressed multiple challenges simultaneously: environmental pollution from plastic bags, economic empowerment for local communities, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Project Components

Sustainable Materials

Using locally abundant papyrus reeds as raw material for bag production

Environmental Impact

Replacing single-use plastic bags with reusable, biodegradable alternatives

Economic Empowerment

Creating income opportunities for local communities through production

Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Working with team members from 6 different countries and continents

Learning Outcomes & Impact

Rapid Ideation

Developed skills in fast-paced innovation and solution design under time constraints.

Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Worked effectively with diverse team members from different cultural and professional backgrounds.

Human-Centered Design

Applied design thinking principles to create solutions that address real community needs.

Global Network

Connected with changemakers tackling climate and sustainability issues worldwide.

Systems Thinking

Learned to approach complex problems with holistic, systems-based solutions.

Impact Pitching

Honed skills in presenting solutions and communicating impact to diverse audiences.

"We progressed to the first knockout stage before being eliminated in the following round, but the process was a powerful learning experience."

Beyond the project, UNLEASH was a cultural and networking hub. The experience deepened my commitment to applying creativity and local resources toward climate resilience in South Sudan and beyond, while building lasting connections with fellow changemakers from around the world.