Education on Artificial Intelligence and mango pits: Meet the winners of the SDG Awards 2024

10/3/2024

The prestigious SDG Awards were presented on Thursday, October 3, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the seventh time, the Association of Social Responsibility recognized the efforts of organizations and young leaders moving the Czech Republic toward a better future. The winning projects had a unique impact in the areas of climate change, innovation and the circular economy, development aid, and more. A new addition this year was the Special Award of Kateřina Fialková for Czech UN Ambassador Jan Kára.

The winners were selected from a record-breaking 269 applications by an expert jury. Each category had a panel composed of partners, representatives from the public sector, business, media, and sustainability and education experts.

“This year stood out for its wide range of projects that address current social issues through innovation, help children and young people keep up with rapid modernization, open up new and much-needed societal topics like mental health or the use of AI in children’s education, and do not turn a blind eye to challenges occurring far beyond our borders,” said Lucie Mádlová, founder and director of the Association of Social Responsibility, which has been organizing the SDG Awards in the Czech Republic since 2017.

The awards were newly divided in some categories into business and non-profit sectors. The Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion category was won by Škoda Auto with its Protected/Profile Center supporting employees with health or social disadvantages, and Cesta Von CZ with its Omama project, in which trained Roma women help children and families escape the cycle of poverty in the Moravian-Silesian Region. In the Education category, the jury honored the Vyslovuj.cz app for at-home pronunciation training for children and the organization AI dětem (AI for Kids).

“While we all naturally view biodiversity—ecological diversity—as a good and desirable thing, we still have a long way to go in embracing human diversity. Yet it is just as enriching and beneficial, and I welcome projects that prove this,” said Michaela Chaloupková, board member and Chief Sustainability Officer at ČEZ, the general partner of the SDG Awards.

In the Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy category, the winners were Myco, with its mushroom mycelium-based packaging material, and Smart Apartments from the Domov sv. Josefa, which help people with multiple sclerosis regain independence in the safety of their homes. The Climate Change and Biodiversity category was dominated by the Bird Parks project from the Czech Society for Ornithology.

In the Development Cooperation, Peace and Partnerships category, the winning project came from Mendel University in Brno, which helps process mango pits, reducing deforestation in Cambodia.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has long been a traditional partner of the SDG Awards. We share a commitment to a sustainable future where the Czech Republic thrives. A sustainable world is more just, more prosperous, and above all, safer. I see the SDG Awards as further proof that the Czech Republic knows how to contribute to solving global challenges and to a better future for all of us,” added Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Young Leader award from Forbes Czech Republic went to Jiří Štěpánek for his project Goodbye.cz, a startup providing empathetic, sustainable, and modern funeral services. A new feature this year was the Special Award of Kateřina Fialková for civil servants, inspired by the legacy of the notable Czech diplomat who suddenly passed away in 2022. The award was presented to Ambassador Jan Kára, one of the first to focus on sustainable development in Czech diplomacy.

Each year, the winning projects receive a unique trophy, which itself carries a message. This year, the organizers teamed up with ELTON hodinářská to produce the most colorful limited edition of the unique PRIM watches. One Goal, one color. The watch face features the motto “No time to waste”, and a laser inscription on the back conveys each watch’s individual message. One watch, symbolizing Goal 17 – Partnerships, is set to be auctioned for charity. It features a hand-decorated dial with a globe motif, an in-house mechanical movement with manual winding, and a transparent case back. These watches can be considered works of art, showcasing the craftsmanship of Czech master watchmakers.

The SDG Awards are a globally unique recognition for fulfilling the UN’s Global Goals. They embody collaboration and partnerships between NGOs, the public sector, and private companies (a Public Private Partnership). Since 2017, the SDG Awards in the Czech Republic have been organized by the Association of Social Responsibility, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment, and as of 2024, also the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The general partner is the ČEZ Group. Trophy partners include Czechoslovak Groupand PRIM. The awards are supported by media partners Forbes Czech Republic, TV Nova, Newstream, Respekt, Nový prostor, and Marketing & Media, along with many other supporters.

You can view the complete photo gallery by Oldřich Drnec HERE.