On 2 February 2026, Global Social Leaders proudly powered the inaugural SPARK Workshop & Challenge launched as part of SPARK.Dubai 2026, a global education initiative hosted by the Varkey Foundation, at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI) in Dubai.
We brought together young people from across the GEMS Education network for an inspiring half-day experience of leadership, collaboration and social action.
The SPARK Workshop marked the launch of the SPARK Social Action Challenge, a follow-on challenge inviting students to take forward a small, meaningful action in their own school or community. With light-touch support, resources and check-ins from the Global Social Leaders team, students are now continuing their journey, turning inspiration into action.
STUDENT’S BLOG
Throughout the challenge, we are inviting students to share their journey and progress.
This blog is from Mark, a student leader at GEMS Wellington International School. Mark is addressing the technology education gap with STEM IN THE BOX, an initiative that provides Arduino-based electronics kits, hands-on project guides and a fully offline STEM curriculum to schools across some of the world’s most underserved communities. The project focuses on affordability, scalability, and partnerships with NGOs and schools to ensure the kits reach the communities that need them most. What began as a simple idea has grown into a structured initiative with the potential to create meaningful, long-term impact.
The Spark
I did not know what to expect from the SPARK Workshop, but straight away, there was technology, robots, and electronics – fields I am deeply passionate about. There was one specific point that really attracted my attention: there was a humanoid robot, which other students controlled. It was so amazing to see that! Moreover, it reminded me of the things that I really love, and, to be honest, it was the starting point of my project. Of course, there was no need to spend all the time only studying robotics because communication with other students is also an important aspect that I really liked. Human bingo and trivia sessions as well as further research stages helped me get to know what other students really cared about. There were so many interesting ideas! They gave me food for thought and pushed me towards my STEM IN THE BOX project.
My SPARK Challenge
The issue I care about is the technology education gap. Hardware and electronics education barely exists in schools across some of the world’s most underserved communities, and kids in these regions are growing up without ever learning to code, build circuits, or work with any kind of STEM hardware. My response to this is STEM IN THE BOX, a project where I’m designing and distributing Arduino-based electronics kits to underprivileged children in some of the countries that need it most. Each kit comes with components, a printed project guide and a curriculum that works completely offline, because a lot of the schools we’re targeting don’t have reliable internet. I’ve built out a full sourcing guide, a sponsorship proposal, and a distribution model based on partnering with local NGOs and schools. What started as a simple thought has turned into a real structured initiative. It now feels less like a school project and more like something that could genuinely change lives.
What I’m learning
The main lesson that I have learned from this experience is that coming up with an idea is just the beginning. Implementing an idea is hard work, and in this case, extremely fun work. I have discovered so many things that never occurred to me before, such as the process of mass-component sourcing, logistics of overseas shipments, and writing an attractive sponsorship application to companies like Google and Microsoft. I’ve learned that the cost of a kit matters enormously because a few pounds difference per unit adds up to thousands across 300 kits. I’ve also learned that the best solutions aren’t always the most complicated ones. Arduino works completely offline and doesn’t need Wi-Fi and that simplicity is exactly what makes it perfect for the kids I’m trying to reach. I have found myself surprisingly fond of strategic thinking. The main challenge now is to get corporate sponsorships and start Phase 1 funding to get the first units shipped.
In One Sentence
STEM In The Box: Open The Box – Build The Future – Change The World
If you’re a student and you’ve ever thought “someone should do something about that”, you’re probably the someone. Start small, think it through, and don’t wait until you’re older. I’m 14 and I’m doing it now.
For further information, email: spark.gsl@future-foundations.co.uk
