Google Zeitgeist Young Minds 2012 winners

4 May 2012

In February this year, Google invited creative young minds to apply to be part of the Zeitgeist Young Minds challenge, an opportunity for young people to showcase how they are making a positive impact in our world. This year's winners have been named and of the ten young minds selected from around the world, five of them are from Africa. [video]

Google Zeitgeist Young Minds 2012 winners

A panel of judges chose the winners, aged between 18 and 24, who have done something exceptional through science, the arts, education and innovation.

Judges included UK digital champion, Martha Lane Fox; social entrepreneur and hip-hop artist Akala; award-winning inventor, Emily Cummins; software developer and founder of metaLayer.com, Jonathan Gosier; and Channel 4 news presenter and correspondent, Jon Snow.

The young Africans selected were:

Ada Umeofia, 19 from Nigeria for WeBuilt: Africa, a design-centered social enterprise that redesigns and constructs market stalls for poverty-stricken Africans by recycling found building materials in slums.

Joel Mwale, 19 from Kenya for Skydrop Enterprise Inc. Mwale brought safe drinking water to a community of 5 000 and has become a profitable enterprise from selling bottled water across Kenya and Uganda.

Jordan Ridge, 23 from South Africa for Made by Mosaic. A job creation project for women in South Africa addressing the challenges of economic development in the townships.

Sibusiso Tshabalala, 20 from South Africa for Developed. A reading club and a library renovation programme in South Africa to encourage critical thinking and thoughtful debate within local high schools.

Simeon Oriko, 23 from Kenya for The Kuyu Project. The project trains school children on how to use social media for social change and promotes digital literacy.

The winners will attend Google's annual Zeitgeist event near London on 21-22 May, alongside some the greatest minds and innovators. While in London, they will participate in masterclasses and have their voices heard.

View the full list of winners.