A group of hard-working young people applied to take part in the Youth Innovation Award 2023, eager to share their ideas and make an impact through social innovation.
The idea that received the strongest support from both the public and the expert jury, winning first place in the competition, was proposed by three young people from Sarajevo: Sara Nalo, Selma Budnjo, and Melisa Mutapčić.
Be My Step turns modern technology into a compassionate companion for blind and partially sighted people. According to information available to these young innovators, there are currently over 40 million blind people worldwide, but only 8% use a smart cane as a mobility aid. Learning this prompted Sara, Selma, and Melisa to develop a solution: smart boxes that can be attached to any white cane. You can see this innovation in action HERE.
“Our research has shown that a white cane does not provide enough support for blind and low-vision people. The box we designed uses sensors to detect obstacles at multiple levels, and our app alerts users through a virtual assistant, making every step safe and independent. The prototype of the box that we developed is more than just a device – it’s something that makes everyday life easier,” – said the Be My Step team.
The Youth Innovation Award aims to motivate young people to drive positive change in their communities by giving future innovative youth leaders the recognition they deserve, emphasizing the importance of their work and their valuable contributions to making Bosnia and Herzegovina better for everyone. This competition, organized for the second consecutive year by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH and the Institute for Youth Development KULT, provides young people with the opportunity and support to turn their innovative ideas into building blocks for a better future for all of us.
After processing everything that happened during the competition, Selma talked about the many ways the process helped her team:
“The competition helped us primarily by providing funding, which is crucial given how challenging it is for young people today to secure support for starting any kind of small business. We are grateful for the opportunity to get funding and all the other resources we needed to build and launch the application. What you see here is the first prototype we made, and we know that we have a long way to go, but if it weren’t for this award, we wouldn’t have this prototype today.”
They invested the prize in developing software, which is currently being tested, before being released on Google and Apple app stores. In addition to the software component, the team developed hardware – a box housing sensors. Thanks to the sensors, the box detects obstacles on the ground and at multiple levels.
Their next step is adding features to the app, which resulted from the mentorship they were provided with.
The story of the innovators behind the Be My Step idea shows that young people recognize the Youth Innovation Award competition as an opportunity to get the funding they need to realize their ideas.
Be My Step is another great example of young people’s ability to contribute to their communities in impactful ways. We wish Sara, Selma, and Melisa the best of luck in their endeavor to contribute to society.
Leave a comment