During our first Youth Innovation Lab in 2017, 14-year-old Asha chose the issue of water and sanitation to focus on. AYANA funded her hand-washing station idea with a grant from Disney and Youth Service America, which improved school attendance since students weren't falling sick from not washing their hands. Young people were involved in every part of the project.

Ideated by 17-year-old Glory, this mobile library in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania holds a variety of books, which we partnered with Book Aid International to access, and is transported to different schools in the area of Moshi, Tanzania. This cart has created a space for independent learning, allowing students to explore their interests through literature. We hope this project will empower the youth to take ownership of their education, and stimulate their desire to learn about the world.

Ramps were created at multiple access points to the school building at Shaurimoy Primary School in Moshi. Two sets of ramps were built in the standard one classrooms, and one set of stairs were built in each of the standard five, six, and seven classrooms. Consolta, the 14 year old project designer, said, The mission of my project is to allow accommodation of all students especially the disabled. Through changing the accommodation, all students will be able to participate fairly in studying."

In partnership with Rwanda Youth Solution (RYSO), we held a workshop for two dozen young people in August 2018. One of the ideas that emerged, presented by 15-year-old Bon Pasteur Alain Celse, was this community cleanliness campaign, where dustbins were installed across the Nyamabuye Sector. A photograph of one of the dustbins that was set up in the campaign we funded can be found to the left. The students' project received local news coverage.

Starting in late 2019, in partnership with Rwanda Youth Solutions, we launched the SDG Superheroes program. Following the YIL in Muhanga late last year, this program is a model of our Youth Innovation Lab led by young people in their local communities. The ideas that emerged which were funded were reproductive health educational talks and a home water purification project.

The Peace of Mind Pop-Up Library has a mission to impact students from the slum of Kibera in Kenya. The students’ aim is to create a conducive learning environment to all learners. Students of all ages benefitted from the inaugural pop-up library in April 2018.

The project started at Katwekera, Kenya. The students plan to sustain their trash pickups by distributing dustbins at every plot and cooperating with the local waste management company to collect our trash. As part of the project, they will also be visiting schools to educate students and pupils on how to maintain cleanliness. ​The first clean-up launched in April 2018.

This project entailed educating young girls from poor backgrounds who have dropped out of school. The project offered trauma healing counseling and a computer science and entrepreneurship training program with the intention of helping the young women to acquire skills to better their lives.

Partnering with MILSCO, an organization that supports vulnerable young people in the Obunga Settlement, we funded a Youth Innovation Lab for 20 young women and their own project ideas. Sixty young people in the community were mobilized and involved in the community clean-up. Over 100 girls were provided with reusable sanitary towels.