A useful idea can begin with something a child notices: materials going to waste, an everyday task that could be easier, or something their classmates need.
The Aflatoun Kidpreneurs Challenge invites children aged five to 12 to explore those observations and imagine a response. Part of the 2026–27 World Series of Innovation, organised by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), it gives young learners an opportunity to connect creativity with the needs around them.
Start with an everyday problem
The challenge asks children to:
“Design a small business or money-making idea that solves a problem around you.”
Children are encouraged to consider who needs help, what makes the problem difficult and how their idea could offer a useful solution. They also need to think about how they would recognise whether it was working.
An idea could involve a product or a service. The challenge page suggests examples such as reusable snack bags or handmade cards. These are starting points for thinking. Children can develop ideas that reflect their own interests and circumstances.
The challenge connects to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal eight: decent work and economic growth. In everyday language, this means considering ways of earning money that are fair, safe and respectful of others.
Connecting learning with life
At Aflatoun International, social and financial education connects understanding oneself and others with practical skills such as planning, saving and making informed choices.
The Kidpreneurs Challenge offers a setting in which children can explore those connections. Thinking about a possible business means looking beyond what they want to make. Who would use it? Why would someone pay for it? What materials would it need?
These questions can open a conversation about responsibility as well as money. An idea may generate income, but its value also depends on how it serves people and uses resources.
For educators and partners, the activity can bring classroom discussions into familiar situations. A child’s observation becomes something to investigate, discuss and develop.
Making space for children’s ideas
Adults have an important supporting role. Teachers, parents and mentors can help children understand the challenge, organise their thoughts and explain their proposed solution.
A useful starting point is to invite learners to describe something they would like to improve at home, at school or in their community. Give them time to explore different possibilities before choosing an idea.
Keep their voices at the centre. Support can mean asking a question or helping a child clarify their explanation, while allowing the idea to remain their own.
How to take part
The challenge sits within NFTE’s Imagination League. Participation is free, and children can enter individually or in teams of up to four. No previous experience is required.
A parent, guardian or teacher should help with registration and submission. Entries are due by 13 December 2026.
We encourage Aflatoun partners, educators and families to explore the challenge with the children they support. Making room for an idea also means taking a child’s observations seriously and helping them see what they could contribute.