World Affairs Challenge

The results are in! 🌍 WorldDenver is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 World Affairs Challenge (WAC)!
This year, nearly 120 middle and high school teams from around the globe stepped up to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability issues. Focused on the theme of Prosperity, these students spent 10 weeks researching, designing, and testing tangible solutions for their communities.
Huge congratulations to our 1st place champions:
🏆 High School: Team Not Too Young (Chisipite Senior School, Harare, Zimbabwe) Designed an innovative, homemade substance using recycled plastic to repair dangerous potholes.
🏆 Middle School: Team RecycleTech (Summit Middle School | Colorado, USA) Developed a scanning app to help residents identify exactly how to recycle items correctly.
The top six teams emerged from a highly competitive field representing Türkiye, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the United States. A massive thank you to our volunteers and judges for making this possible! 👏
📺 Watch the winning project videos here: https://worlddenver.org/world-affairs-challenge/

WorldDenver needs YOU to host a visiting student from Uganda through Legacy International's On-Demand Youth Leadership Program between December 4–16. Inviting a student to stay with you during their exchange program is a life-changing experience for both your family and for the student!

Build lasting relationships, open your heart and home this holiday season and share the gift of global connection.

Email [email protected] or sign up here: https://buff.ly/TXIf9MM

Registration for the 2026 World Affairs Challenge is officially open! 💡🌎💡
Middle and high school teams around the world design their own innovative projects related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more about WAC 2026 at worlddenver.org or register here: https://buff.ly/r3q7BHC

WAC 2026 begins January 6, 2026!

Check out WorldDenver's Fall Lineup!
This Friday, 9.19 An Afternoon with Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin at Denver Botanic Gardens
9.24 The 13th Annual Global Cup Challenge Trivia Night at Meow Wolf Denver
10.9 Panel Discussion: Disrupting the Cycle of Genocide at Buell Public Media Center with Bellwether International
10.16 Screening of A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela at Denver Film's Sie FilmCenter

Register today: worlddenver.org/events

🌍 Did you know? Each year, high school and college students can take part in virtual exchange programs that connect them with peers around the world. These opportunities offer incredible benefits:

✨ Engage with real-world issues
✨ Build project planning & management skills
✨ Develop leadership & communication abilities
✨ Earn a certificate + digital badges

Two great ways to get involved:
🔹 The Experiment Digital Youth Leadership & Community Service Program
🔹 STEAM Innovations from World Learning (Deadline Sept. 8) https://buff.ly/JBv3VqX

Check them out and keep an eye out for future deadlines—you don’t want to miss it!

Did you miss last week's virtual World Affairs Challenge showcase? You can catch all the team updates here on our WAC Youtube channel:

World Affairs Challenge Virtual Showcase 2025 Listen to the webinar recording from the May 1 event to hear updates from the students!

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! WorldDenver is grateful to all the
teachers out there—today and every day.

🏆 Celebrating the 2025 World Affairs Challenge Winners!

This year, 170 teams from 8 countries tackled global sustainability issues—congrats to our first-place champions:

🥇 First Place – High School:
ReVIALution (Pembroke Hill School , Missouri, USA)

🥇 First Place – Middle School:
Little Plants, Big Impact (Scholé Center for Innovative Education , Virginia, USA)

A huge shoutout to ALL the incredible students from around the world who participated! 🌍✨

Don't forget to register for the free WAC Showcase on May 1 to hear project updates from WAC students and to celebrate their months of hard work!

Want more WACtion? You can watch all of the winning teams videos here: https://worlddenver.org/world-affairs-challenge/

Join WorldDenver in celebrating the 2025 World Affairs Challenge teams and their local solutions to global issues on May 1st! Students will share the progress they have made on their WAC projects in this science fair-style event. This event is free and open to all! Register here: https://worlddenver.org/event/world-affairs-challenge-showcase-2025/

Support young people around the world participating in the World Affairs Challenge as a volunteer project evaluator for the Global Championship! Evaluate student projects from March 10-23 online. Sign up here: https://buff.ly/GPz4xAH

Young minds creating bold solutions for a brighter future! 🌍✨ From DIY water filters in Zimbabwe to community greenhouses in Colorado, the World Affairs Challenge empowers students worldwide to tackle global challenges. Your support fuels these impactful projects—make a difference this Colorado Gives Day! https://buff.ly/3gNt6DM

Support global dialogue in Denver! Giving for Colorado Gives Day is open now through December 10. Each year, WorldDenver’s Speaker Series brings influential leaders, authors, and experts to discuss global issues, challenges, and solutions—from cybersecurity to foreign policy. This year, we welcomed William Kamkwamba, author of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, among other inspiring voices from around the world.

By donating, you’ll help us continue creating spaces for inclusive, nonpartisan dialogue that builds connections and understanding across cultures. Join us in strengthening Denver’s global community—make a gift today! https://buff.ly/3gNt6DM