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SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Welcome to the SDG Awards, a distinguished recognition program honoring the remarkable contributions of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in championing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist Profile

Focus Future

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Focus Future
About Company
  • Company Type: Education
  • Founded in N/A
  • Located at Bielefeld, Germany
  • Employees: 02 – 10

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
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Workforce Development: Provides tailored training and development programs that equip individuals from underserved communities.

➜ Workforce Development: Provides tailored training and development programs that equip individuals from underserved communities.
➜ Equal Opportunities: Offering career coaching and mentorship, Focus Future ensures that people from diverse backgrounds can advance in their careers.
➜ Bridging the Skills Gap: Addresses disparities in education and skills by providing resources that help gain competitive skills, fostering a more inclusive job market.
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1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

At focus future, we’ve made a significant local impact by providing tailored mentoring and career guidance programs to individuals who are often overlooked due to their socio-economic backgrounds. Our work centers on challenging the status quo and breaking down barriers to equal opportunities in the job market. We focus on our hometown region, where we have deep ties with both individuals and companies, ensuring credibility and meaningful connections. As translators, we make job market knowledge accessible; as connectors, we link mentees with mentors and employers; and as partners, we guide them on their unique career paths. Through our community, which includes a strong network of around 50 mentors, we’re actively addressing local inequalities and fostering a supportive environment where everyone can pursue a career aligned with their strengths and interests.

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

While our primary focus has been on local impact, our ambition at focus future is to expand globally. We are still in the validation phase, but our long-term vision is to build a diverse, international community that addresses socio-economic barriers in employment on a global scale. By fostering an inclusive workforce and connecting mentors and mentees from different backgrounds through our mentoring program and community, we aim to contribute to global conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Although we haven't achieved global impact yet, our commitment to this goal is unwavering, and we are laying the groundwork for future expansion.

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

focus future’s mentoring framework is highly scalable due to its adaptability to different communities and regions. We combine personal and digital approaches, allowing us to tailor our programs to various socio-economic contexts. Our mentor network is continuously growing, with mentees often becoming mentors themselves, which creates a sustainable cycle of support. Despite not actively advertising, we see a high interest in mentorship, which reflects the scalability of our approach. As we grow, we plan to leverage technology to broaden our reach and partner with companies to create more inclusive hiring practices, both locally and globally.

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

At focus future, we utilize technology thoughtfully, ensuring it enhances rather than replaces the personal connections that are central to our mission. We leverage technology as a tool for scalability and community management, not as an anonymous web app. Our approach includes using online communication tools and data-driven decision-making mechanisms to match mentees with mentors effectively. We also use digital platforms to foster connections and manage our growing community, ensuring that our mentoring services remain accessible and impactful. However, we prioritize human interaction, using technology only when it truly adds value to our work.

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

Challenging the status quo has been one of our biggest hurdles at focus future, especially since many believe existing solutions are sufficient. We also face cultural gaps related to age, education, language, and generational differences. Additionally, there's the ongoing challenge of balancing the need to adapt constantly in a world where expectations and skill requirements are always changing. To address these challenges, we’ve developed a comprehensive approach that goes beyond one-time solutions, ensuring ongoing sensitivity to the issues we tackle. We also focus on building both sides of our community—mentees and companies—simultaneously, despite the inherent “chicken-and-egg” problem.

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

We engaged local communities by building strong partnerships with educational institutions, community organizations, and businesses. We conducted interviews with mentees and companies, participated in events like Pitch Day at the Founders Foundation, and collaborated with networks of friends, family offices, and small business owners. This open exchange has been crucial to our work. Feedback from these interactions has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising our program for providing clarity, confidence, and concrete guidance in their career paths. Our community-driven approach has created a supportive environment where individuals feel empowered to thrive.

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

focus future prioritizes sustainability in all aspects of our operations. We primarily work remotely, reducing our carbon footprint, and when personal interaction is necessary, we travel by public transport. We operate paperlessly, minimizing material usage. Additionally, we emphasize ethical practices in our partnerships, ensuring that all collaborators share our commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability.

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

Achieving the SDGs requires a collective effort. Businesses should integrate SDGs into their core strategies, particularly by promoting inclusive and equitable employment practices. Governments must create policies that support these goals, offering incentives for businesses that prioritize diversity and inclusion. Civil society is crucial in advocacy and education, raising awareness of inequalities and pushing for systemic change. Effective collaboration happens when all sectors engage in open exchange, leveraging their unique strengths and resources to address complex issues like fighting inequalities.

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

Our advice is to start by deeply understanding the specific needs of the communities you want to serve. Develop tailored solutions that directly address these needs. Collaboration is key—partner with organizations that share your goals and can complement your efforts. Stay adaptable and open to feedback, as this will help you refine your approach and maximize your impact. Remember, be open to learning, share your knowledge freely, and believe that everyone, regardless of their background, can contribute to creating a better world.

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

Winning the SDG Award would significantly enhance focus future’s visibility, allowing us to reach more individuals and organizations that could benefit from our services. It would raise awareness about the problem of socio-economic barriers in the job market and motivate us as co-founders to continue our work with renewed energy. The award would also attract additional funding and partnerships, enabling us to scale our operations and expand our mentoring programs to new regions, ultimately reducing inequality in the workforce on a larger scale.

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

Our future objectives at focus future include expanding our mentoring network, starting from our hometown and reaching regions with high levels of socio-economic inequality. We plan to develop new digital tools that enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of our programs. Additionally, we aim to strengthen partnerships with businesses and educational institutions to create more pathways to employment for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Every mentee counts, and every small step forward in self-reflection and learning is an achievement as we work towards a more inclusive global workforce.
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