Page 48 - IFIA_Magazine_No17

WITH SUCCESS COMES

NEW OPPORTUNITY &

NATION LEVEL PROGRAMS

The Global Innovation Field Trip™, an- be deferred to the next quarterly event. This
nounces the development of the first-ev- concerns us greatly because we strive to
er National Innovation Field Trips, keep this platform accessible to all.
nation-level celebrations of youth inno- The great news and in keeping with our
vation. mission, we are ready to take the next step
in celebrating students around the world,
Launched in early 2020, when the pandem- creating greater opportunity, by inviting
ic was starting to cancel innovation cele- like-minded organizations to be a part of
brations in the United States and around this proven model through the National In-
the world, the Global Innovation Field Trip, novation Field Trips (NIFTs).
known as GIFT, was just ramping up. As the NIFTs are feeder programs to the Global
first 24-hour online, multi-country collabo- Innovation Field Trip (GIFT). Born out of the
ration, celebrating and showcasing young high demand from around the world for
innovators and programs that educate, in- entry/participation into the quarterly GIFTs,
spire, and sponsor youth innovation, GIFT the NIFT programs establish country-lev-
quickly evolved from a one-time U.S.-based el or region-level programs that focus on
program to a quarterly, multi-country bea- youth innovation presentations mostly from
con of world learning. Promising to fill you a specific region, country, or specific cus-
with inspiration, hope, and reassurance that tomer network. NIFTs can also maintain an
our future is in good hands, these K-12 international flair with co-hosts and select
innovators share their short stories of inno- guests participating from outside of the NIFT
vation with the world. country.
Fast forward three years, and GIFT has ac- The goal of a NIFT, just like the global pro-
complished 13 field trips celebrating more gram, is to provide an online, multi-country
than 1450 presenters from 61 countries. collaboration, celebrating young innovators
With an all-volunteer event staff of 30 or and those who educate, inspire, and sponsor
more co-hosts from 14-16 countries, GIFT innovation, most often in their home coun-
has proven itself a highly successful global try, in surrounding territories, and some-
collaboration. times outside of their country within their
The good, the not so good and the great organization’s footprint.
IFIA Magazine Septeber 2023 world are seeing how the GIFT experience program leader’s profiles with parents, ad-
news
Just as with the GIFT program, the NIFT
The good news is that people across the raises the students, schools, educators, and

has changed students’ lives and futures, and ministrators, higher education, and govern-
ment agencies. They are no longer just pre-
they want to be involved.
The not-so-good news is that the program senting to their school, community, or local
has proven so impactful and has become so government; they now experience national

and in some cases, presentations need to vanced to the GIFT.

46 popular that the quarterly events fill quickly, and potentially global-level attention if ad-