The Hero Awards, in partnership with Afghan Women Rising, are spearheading an initiative to create the world's largest "solution engine" targeting the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As announced during the Geneva plenary session, each of the 169 targets under the broader goals is being converted into prompts for AI bots, beginning with platforms like OpenAI's GPTs, Gemini's Gems, and Claude Artifacts, and evolving into full-fledged AI assistants capable of continuous self-updating to drive actionable workflows toward the Goals.
Central to this effort are the young women of Afghan Women Rising, who, despite being denied formal education by the Taliban-led government, are building these bots online. They refine prompts through in-person discussions, adding a crucial human element. "Having these girls design the prompts allows them to sidestep the ban against schooling," says Program Director Amy Chang. "They get valuable experience building projects that will contribute to Sustainability both in and outside of their own country for a long while, and prepare themselves for a time in which their talents will be vital for the country's future." The girls draw inspiration from J. Kutcher's writings, particularly her metaphor of garden plant growth representing spiritual, emotional, and intellectual development.
Upon completing a protocol, creators become eligible for a Hero Award if their work suggests previously unknown strategies for advancing the UN targets. Successful efforts are highlighted on the Hero Awards website and in press releases. Since the program's launch six months ago, other Global South organizations have requested involvement, including PARI (People's Archive of Rural India), Siku.org, Cybersmartafrica.org, Terrastories, and Winyama. These groups will be included in future iterations, expanding the initiative's reach across Indian rural populations, First Nations of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, Senegalese teachers and students, South American and Amazonian indigenous communities, and Australian indigenous groups.
June's Hero Award winners include Tara Jensen, Maria Ortiz, Herman Matsui, and Wilhelmina Searles. For more information, visit the Hero Awards Substack or the UN SDG Goals and Targets page. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to admin@heroaward.net.
