19-year-old Pinoy wins int’l Microsoft Youthspark tilt

A 19-year-old Filipino student did the Philippines proud after winning an international challenge for change sponsored by software giant Microsoft.

Dominic Co is one of the five outstanding grand prize winners of Microsoft’s YouthSpark Challenge for Change, joining winners from India, Mexico and the United States.

Co, who seeks to promote nationalism and appreciation of Philippine literature with his libroko.com site, plans to develop an online curriculum to supplement the teaching of Philippine literature.

Libroko.com is being envisioned as an online resource and forum that will help students better understand Filipino literary works.

”Filipino works, such as (national hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s) Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, have lost some of their relevance especially to the young people who readthem more than a hundred years later. The internet, along with the latest Microsoft technologies, could provide a channel for the youth to rediscover these works,” Co said.

Co and the other four winners of the YouthSpark Challenge for Change will have a volunteer trip to the Amazon to learn about social entrepreneurship, leadership, conservation and rural development issues in the Amazon rainforest.

They will also receive a $2,500 cash grant, and a Microsoft technology bundle including a Windows Phone 8 and Xbox One.

Youthspark

Microsoft’s YouthSpark Challenge for Change encourages young people around the world to submit ideas that spark change in their communities.

The contest seeks to empower young people to develop or expand a project for social good using Microsoft technology.

“Microsoft believes that nothing matches the creativity and passion of youth to inspire social change. The stories from contestants and winners alike were truly inspiring,” said Microsoft Philippines general manager Karrie Ilagan.

For this year, entries covered issues including food security, personal empowerment, digital literacy, STEM education, healthcare, environmentalism, and entrepreneurship.

The entries in the contest were judged for creativity, the potential to create a positive impact on a social issue and the use of Microsoft technology, including Windows and Office.