Two teams, each with a Filipino member, bagged the major prizes in this year’s virtually-held FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific competition.
Winning out of a group of 52 high school student finalists representing nine Asia Pacific markets was The Breakfast Club composed of Aljo Benedicto from the Philippines and Chloe Jazzy Lau from Hong Kong SAR.
The team won for their idea to create a biometrics sensor powered by a smart app to detect anxiety attacks.
“We are both honored to be named the winners of the competition. It was so exciting! Every stage of the competition had been a fantastic challenge for us, especially in the finals,” said The Breakfast Club team members. “We really feel inspired to follow a career in business right now.”
This year’s challenge was to create a market entry strategy for mental well-being product in South Africa.
“As a supporter of youth entrepreneurship and a proponent of small businesses in Asia Pacific, we believe that empowering the next generation will help the region prepare for what’s next and help bring the global marketplace to our doorstep,” said Kawal Preet, FedEx Express president for Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region.
Team Lumos’ Sakthivell Ahrumugam from Singapore and Chaeyoon Park from South Korea, meanwhile, were named first runners-up for their idea of a smart bike that helps track the rider’s mental well-being.
Filipino high school student Raine Santiago Nakpil and Theethad Thipsoda from Thailand of the Viennese Medicos were second runners-up. Their idea was a smart lamp with a sleep monitoring function.
“I am very grateful that in the face of a global pandemic we were able to once again provide a stage for our students and complete another very successful iteration of the ITC competition, doing so virtually for the first time ever” enthused Maziar Sabet, president and chief executive of JA Asia Pacific.
The FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge program is jointly organized by FedEx Express and JA Asia Pacific, a member of JA Worldwide.