Student Initiative Awards
Innovate. Inspire. Impact.
Prizes Awarded for Innovative Projects in 3 Hearing Health Categories
The World Hearing Forum’s (WHF) Student Changemakers Awards initiative seeks to engage student changemakers from around the world to develop innovative solutions for ear and hearing care (EHC) in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
“We hope the Student Changemakers Awards will inspire the next generation of Changemakers in ear and hearing care. We are looking for new innovative, disruptive ideas, products or programs.”
— Howard Weinstein, CEO, Solar Ear, Member of WHF
Innovate in ear and hearing careTransform your ideas into reality with the opportunity to receive funding and expert mentorship
Three categories
Prevention > Strategies to prevent hearing loss from preventable causes.
Assistive Technologies > Low-cost assistive technologies to help people with hearing loss.
Training & Education > Methods to support frontline technicians, pediatricians, teachers, community and primary health care workers, and/or nurses to deliver EHC.
Three prizes in each category
Cash Awards > 1st Place: $15,000; 2nd Place: $10,000; 3rd Place: $5,000
Mentorship > WHF-assigned mentor to help bring projects to fruition
Exposure > First-place winners will be invited to present their projects at the WHF’s 2025 Stakeholders Meeting held at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Who is this for
Undergraduate and graduate university students interested in being part of a global initiative to transform hearing health. Each group should include at least two students and an academic advisor. Multidisciplinary projects are encouraged, so collaborate across fields for fresh ideas.
Why now
Hearing loss affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide, including 430 million with disabling hearing loss and 34 million children. The majority - nearly 80% - of those with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries, and unaddressed hearing loss costs the global economy $980 billion annually. By 2050, 1 in 10 people is expected to live with disabling hearing loss.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60% of hearing loss can be prevented with public health measures, yet only 17% of those who could benefit from hearing aids access these devices. This underscores the critical need for innovative solutions and broader access to ear and hearing care worldwide.
Key dates
Applications are due by: Monday, March 3rd, 2025 (extended from December 3rd 2024)
Winners are announced: June 2025
Winning project interim progress report due: October 2025
Final reports and presentations due: December 2025
Ready to make a difference?
Before you begin your application,
please access the information sheet below and read carefully the rules of the competition.
Your submission will require the following documents
(in English)
Description of local challenges
Project description
Prototype documentation
Implementation plan
Final presentation video
World Hearing Forum,
guided by the World Health Organisation
Have questions or comments? Email us below.
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