M-T1-YS-18 · Theme 1 · Youth & Schools
Rotary Youth Innovation Labs
Provides a supervised maker environment where young people co-design and test community solutions across several iterations rather than competing once.
What could this idea change?
Young people build applied innovation capability and partners receive prototypes shaped by affected users.
A simple way to start
- Scope the challenge and ethical boundaries with users and students. Who could lead it: Lab director
- Form inclusive teams and teach rapid research plus safe experimentation. Who could lead it: Learning facilitator
- Run prototype sprints with technical gates before each test. Who could lead it: Technical supervisor
- Test with consented users and log findings, failures and changes. Who could lead it: Student teams
- Demonstrate the final iteration and hand over code, drawings or a responsible stop note. Who could lead it: Lab director
What should we look for?
- Teams completing each safety and ethics gate.
Before we say yes
- Does it fit a real local need?
- Can people take part safely and fairly?
- Are the facts, permissions and Rotary branding right?
- Who will lead it, and when will we review it?