Power Mac Center “emPOWER UP! Design a Better World: App Development Challenge contest Winners

Grade school students, big winner in Power Mac Center app contest

Game app tackles global Quality Education goal

A game app that will help toddlers and grade school students build their passion for learning bagged the grand prize in Power Mac Center’s recently concluded “emPOWER UP! Design a Better World: App Development Challenge” for kids. The winning app concept aims to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education by integrating valuable lessons during gameplay.

According to the UN, more than 265 million children are currently out of school, 22 percent of which are of primary school age. Moreover, 617 million youth all over the world lack basic mathematics and literacy skills. By integrating lessons into something ubiquitous like smart devices, providing quality education doesn’t stop at traditional venues like classrooms thereby reaching more learners, even in far-flung areas. Games, in particular, help keep children’s minds active and their imagination going.

The app titled BrainVentures puts the player through a series of activities with the help of a digital sidekick. These activities let players explore and develop their skills and creativity along the way. The concept was developed by Derek Joshua Altuna, Alexandria Jillian Braga, and Aniela Jenina Lesaca, collectively known as “Team BrainVentures” from De La Salle Santiago Zobel.

Grade School students from De La Salle Santiago Zobel and Team BrainVentures members Derek Joshua Altuna, Aniela Jenina Lesaca, and Alexandria Jillian Braga bag the grand prize in Power Mac Center’s recently concluded “emPOWER UP! Design a Better World: App Development Challenge” for kids. They are bringing home brand new iPad units and the opportunity to have their app developed and uploaded to the App Store.

Sofia Annika Ysabel Pagilagan, Enrico Joaquin Abella, and Kaia Mikayla Diola of Team Clean ‘Em All receive the second runner-up award and Php 30,000 worth of Power Mac Center gift certificates for an app on Climate Action and caring for Life Below Water and Life on Land.

Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing Joey Alvarez is all praises for the winners. “Kids nowadays are woke. They understand what’s happening, they know what’s needed, and they help create simple but impactful solutions. And because they’re digital natives, they know how to leverage technology to their advantage.”

Apart from the iPad units they received, the kids of Team BrainVentures also get to attend free workshops by Power Mac Center’s Apple Certified Trainers, who will help create and upload their app in the App Store. It is expected to be up and running within the year.

Meanwhile, first runner-up winner Team Earth Hero (composed of Cameron Sanz, Rebecca De Veyra, and Hannah Mallinllin) designed an app for Climate Action, which got them Php 45,000 worth of Power Mac Center Gift Certificates in prizes. Team Clean ‘Em All (composed of Kaia Mikayla Diola, Enrico Joaquin Abella, and Sofia Annika Ysabel Pagilagan) won Php 30,000 worth of Power Mac Center Gift Certificates for an app on Climate Action and caring for Life Below Water and Life on Land.

emPOWER UP! Design a Better World: App Development Challenge was staged in cooperation with KIDS CAN! Innovation Camp, Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST Asia), De La Salle College of Saint Benilde HiFi (Hub of Innovation for Inclusion), Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, and I Am VR Panda.

An Apple Authorized Training Provider, Power Mac Center continuously empowers and enhances the technical and creative skills of the youth through annual training programs such as the Summer Workshop. For details and reservation of seats, interested clients may contact the Training Team at (0908) 885 6277 or email pbsi@powermaccenter.com.