Tomorrow’s Green Leaders: How Year 9 Students Are Shaping the Isle of Man’s Environmental Future
Friday 11 July 2025
Tomorrow’s Green Leaders: How Year 9 Students Are Shaping the Isle of Man’s Environmental Future
Isle of Man, 10 July 2025 – The next generation of environmental innovators took centre stage yesterday as the winners of Challenge for Change were crowned at a high-energy Grand Final hosted at the Games Global Head Office.
Launched in April 2025 and supported by a three-year funding commitment from Games Global, the programme was developed in partnership with Junior Achievement Isle of Man to equip Year 9 students (aged 13–14) with the tools to tackle real-world environmental issues, empowering them to become future leaders in sustainability.
Over the past three months, students across every secondary school on the Island have participated in this dynamic one-day workshop, where they worked in teams to design innovative solutions to one of four environmental challenges: food waste, fast fashion, energy conservation or littering. Each team developed a new product idea or advertising campaign with the support of trained volunteers and presented their ideas in a class-wide pitch. Finalists from each school competed this week in the Grand Final for the title of overall champions.
Students from Ballakermeen High School were announced as the winners for their World 1 Waste Zero project - an initiative that harnesses AI and smart algorithms to develop intelligent sockets designed to reduce energy consumption.
Reflecting on their experience, Moamen, Tommy, Keaira, and Phoebe from Ballakermeen High School, shared that the most valuable lesson they took away from Challenge for Change was the importance of being open to new ideas and perspectives. They especially enjoyed collaborating with peers they wouldn’t typically work with, contributing to environmental sustainability, and building confidence in their public speaking skills.
The programme has reached every Year 9 student on the Isle of Man thanks to the support of Games Global, whose funding has ensured access is completely free for schools and students. Games Global also encouraged its employees to volunteer in the classroom, joining 90 trained volunteers from local businesses and the community who collectively contributed over 500 hours of support.
Sue Cook, CEO of Junior Achievement, commented: “We have been working on this project for over 18 months, and to see it come to life has been amazing thanks entirely to Games Global. It has been wonderful to see both volunteers and pupils engage so enthusiastically with such important issues. When you witness the creativity and passion behind their ideas, it truly gives you hope for the future of our planet.”
Beyond environmental awareness, students developed key life skills such as teamwork, research, time management, presentation, and creative thinking, making the experience both enriching and memorable.
Kimberley Broad, Chief Public Affairs Officer at Games Global, said: “We are incredibly proud to support Challenge for Change and to see first-hand the creativity, passion, and commitment these students bring to solving some of today’s most urgent environmental issues. It’s inspiring to watch them not only come up with innovative ideas, but also develop the confidence and skills they’ll carry into the future. At Games Global, we believe that investing in young people is one of the most powerful ways to make a lasting impact, for our Island and for the planet.”
With the success of this first year, Challenge for Change is set to return in 2026, further cementing its place as a flagship educational initiative on the Island.
If you would like more information on this programme or details on how you can volunteer for Junior Achievement, contact Sue Cook on 666266 or email [email protected]
ENDS
About Games Global
Games Global is a leading developer, distributor and marketer of innovative online, casino-style gaming (“iGaming”) content and integrated business-to-business solutions to iGaming operators in regulated markets globally. Games Global has one of the largest networks of exclusive iGaming content studios, and its 42 in-house and partnered studios have developed more than 1,400 proprietary games over the past 20 years. With a market leading offering including slot games, table games, video poker, video bingo, progressive jackpots, game show games, crash games and live casino games, Games Global is a key content provider to iGaming operators, supporting the rapid growth of iGaming in regulated markets.
Visit www.gamesglobal.com to learn more.
About Junior Achievement
For more information about the work of Junior Achievement, visit www.jaiom.im or join its Facebook page @juniorachievementisleofman
Junior Achievement is a Manx registered charity that supports more than 5,000 young people in the Isle of Man.
