H.Y.P.E. Help Young People Engage System

In an ideal world, all people would have safe places and/or people to turn to. Yet as ideal as that seems, this still is not the case, even for our young people. Globally, there still exists a massive over-representation of young people who are alone, experiencing harm, and remain unassisted. 

Our vision is to create more safe spaces online and in the community for young people. To do so, accessibility to qualified youth mentors using an effective youth engagement system is needed. That is why we created the H.Y.P.E. (Help Young People Engage) System.

The H.Y.P.E. System is innovatively designed to engage youth via online platforms and digital technologies. A creative alternative education platform and system where youth can advance to the Raw Artist Development (RAD) program to further their creative skills and/or continue engaging in online mentoring support.

In Australia, there is an increasingly large number of young people who experience significant levels of harm, increasing risk-taking behaviors, psychological and physical health issues. As a result, these barriers inhibit some youth to realize their full potential in order to live the meaningful life they desire. For the purpose of this challenge, we are targeting the solution for disengaged and at-risk young people from the education system. This problem is consistent in the education department within all states of Australia and can be commonly found around the globe. 

An alternative method, therefore, was needed to engage youth into mentored youth services where intervention strategies could then be promoted and implemented by mentors. As a result, the method that underpins the H.Y.P.E System was trialed in Victoria and Queensland, Australia, via the Hype Facktur Competition. 17 youth actively participated with over 1900 community engagement votes and viewers from 10 countries.

Successful strategies identified by youth mentors who authored real-life  stories of young people on the u_me_others_us were implemented into the  development of the H.Y.P.E. System, a system created to offer an online solution to the problems of a lack of accessibility to youth professionals and services.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/20...

https://www.ccyp.wa.gov.au/med...

https://lens.monash.edu/@educa...

Online audience can also be found on the u_me_others_us Instagram page.

The H.Y.P.E system, an ed-tech-based application allowing young people to engage in creative video-based learning modules with access to industry mentors. The H.Y.P.E. System is an 8-week online system designed to encourage young people to use creative forms of self-expression e.g. dancing, singing, showcase any creative talents.

All participants have the opportunity to perform online, be supported and guided online by trained mentors.

Week 1 - Rapport building and introduction Session. Youth Mentors and participants to share in offline discussions. Discussions to include their talent, goals, etc. 

Week 2 - Offline, participants share and develop their online performance ideas, scheduled to go live week 4 or 5. Group participants to offers positive suggestions and feedback with one another.

Week 3 - Participants to begin practicing the recording of their performance ideas which will be screened shared in an online live session. Participants to begin planning their performance appearance dates.

Week 4 - Final recording session for youth to have their performance ready for live performances due next week & the week after. 

Week 5&6 - Go live performance session

Week 7 - Reviewing of performances & goal-setting based on HYPE system

Week 8 - Group graduation & pathway development

Describe the target population whose lives you are working to directly and meaningfully improve. 

In Australia, Pasifika TOA Ltd are targeting all youth, 14-24 years of age, however our primary focus initially are youth of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; particularly Maori and Pacific Island youth. This is because we recognise the importance of first addressing where our communities need strengthening. Therefore, this is where we are starting. Our commitment to promote community cohesion is evidenced in our open door policy to all youth, from all backgrounds, online and in community.

Who are they, and in what ways are they currently underserved? 

Over-represented in Protective and Judicial systems.

Over-represented in youth suicide and high at-risk behaviours

What are you doing to understand their needs, and how are you engaging them as you develop the solution?

Program and services consultation working closely in partnership with  community organisations for established referral pathway support.

How will the solution address their needs?

Accessibility to mentors, youth development opportunities and on-going access to support made available. NFT and Blockchain technology intergration ensures safety and sustainability of youth services and youth sector innovation pathways creation

The H.Y.P.E. System increases the engagement of learners in remote, hybrid, and physical environments, including strategies and tools for parental support, peer interaction, and guided independent work via the online accessibility delivery method and structured mentoring method used.

Online mentors use Zoom, social media platforms, website and integrations such as Streamyard to engage young people. All online platforms have been marketed to appeal to targeted youth audiences as well. Community organisational partnerships have been established as well to ensure community referral pathways for young people too. This system also has the ability to be upscaled to NFT and blockchain technologies.

Instagram Page: u_me_others_us  - Social Proof of youth needing NFP org and HF Pasifika TOA Ltd 

See website: www.pasifikatoa.org and Instagram Page for  Hype Facktur Competition - Method and social proof of youth engaging into H.Y.P.E. Facktur System and with mentors online. Also community support and social proof of 1921vote counts indicating the capacity building of community engagement and community supporting young people.

Describe why your solution provides a new or significantly improved approach to the problem. 

Pasifika TOA is a not-for-profit organisation that has been fully developed and implemented online. 

Explain how it could be catalytic: do you expect it to change the market or enable broader positive impacts from others in this space? How?

Yes, via upscaling the reach of Pasifika TOA using it's online approach as well as measurable stepping stone to non-fungible tokens and Blockchain technological development.

Current number

Number serving in one years time

Number serving in five years time

Share specific examples of how your solution’s leadership team embodies the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. You may also use this space to list any tangible goals your team has related to these values, and your plan for achieving them. 

For more about MIT Solve’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, refer to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement.