Social change and innovations are some of the best indicators of just how engaged young people can be and how much they can contribute to raising the standards and quality of life of young people and other members of their local community. The goal of #YIA2022 was to recognize and acknowledge future innovative youth leaders, their work, and their importance in society and to encourage young people to contribute and actively participate in creating better lives for everyone.
Damir Hanić is a third-year mechanical engineering student at the International University in Sarajevo. Damir saw the public call for the Youth Innovation Award 2022 competition, which was launched by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. E. Jan Waltmans and is implemented by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH and the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
Damir impressed the jury with his air purifying module, winning first place in the competition, which included a cash prize and mentoring. Today, several months later, Damir says that #YIA2022 was a perfect opportunity fo creative young people who need support in making their ideas a reality.
He developed the MED module idea while in Italy as an exchange student. He says he was a very creative child and wanted to be an astronaut. He was initially interested in rockets and wanted to focus on innovating in that field, but after he returned from Italy, he realized that in the Bosnia and Herzegovina context, his idea would not be perceived as relevant. So, he replaced the rocket with a drone.
The MED module is based on a drone with an engine and capsule containing silver iodide, which purifies polluted air. The module is activated once the drone reaches a certain temperature above the smog. The motor activates and disperses silver iodide over the smog. This causes rain, dispersing the smog and letting the sunlight and warmth reach the ground.
Winning the #YIA2022 meant that Damir could show how his innovation works, which was hard to explain to others without having an actual prototype to show them. Thanks to #YIA2022, Damir took his first big step towards seeing his idea come to life. Using the 3D printer he bought with the money he won from #YIA2022 gives him a chance to pinpoint where the problems are in the components and makes fixing them easier. Damir used some of his prize money to buy a drone.
Damir has the support of his family and friends, who know how much effort he put into the MED module, how much this idea means to him, and how important an air pollution solution can be for the entire community. Damir thinks that this would benefit everyone since no one is left unaffected by smog. While appreciative of the monetary prize, Damir adds that another reward were the numerous acquaintances and connections he has made, which was one of the best things about the competition for him. “Take action and make contacts that will support and help you in the future. During this process, I met new people and learned so much from other contestants and from the staff of the Institute for Youth Development KULT.”
From December until today, Damir has developed a prototype of the MED module with three sensors. One of the sensors measures the temperature and altitude – when the drone reaches a certain altitude and temperature, the motor activates and disperses particles from the capsule filled with silver iodide. The dispersion generates pressure higher than the outside pressure, so the outside pressure cannot affect the dispersion mechanism. Damir has also developed several capsule prototypes and motor cases using a 3D printer. You can see this innovation in action HERE.
Damir says that entrepreneurial thinking is the most important thing he learned during the Youth Innovation Award 2022.
“This training helps you see things from a different perspective. The training we had with Ms. Ernom Šošević, who is a successful entrepreneur, showed us what investors are looking for and what they’re interested in, and it’s a bit different from what interests us as innovators. We were all missing this business aspect of it. Before the Youth Innovation Award, we didn’t think like business people, which is something I am now trying to do,” says Damir.
When asked if he would have done anything differently, he says that he would have focused more on showing results and focusing on facts that prove the relevance of his idea to the community rather than focusing on the technical aspect of the idea. Now that he’s a bit older and with a little more experience in this field, he thinks it’s more important to show people how they will benefit from the project. He also notes that the project is not limited to one person, but also includes faculties, universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as all individuals interested in being part of the solution.
An example of how citizens recognize the importance of this idea and want to help is a man from Ilijaš who was not able to offer funding but decided to support Damir by offering his property in Ilijaš for testing purposes.
Damir will continue refining his idea in hopes that he will soon provide BiH with a potential solution to air pollution, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Institute for Youth Development KULT will continue to support innovative and creative young people whose efforts bring real change.
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