On Aug 6, the first Public Benefit International Challenge for Youth concluded its two-month contest at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).

The theme of the challenge was to “help Africa by putting innovative ideas into practice”.

Conscious of three of the sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations -- zero hunger, good health and quality education -- the challenge encouraged contestants, who were high school students from China and other countries, to come up with innovative public welfare projects that can improve the medical, nutritional and educational conditions for kids in Africa living with AIDS or in poverty.

The judges also added an international flavor to the challenge. There were three Chinese judges from the China Social Assistance Foundation, BFSU, and UNAIDS, and five international judges from Rice, Columbia, New York and Carnegie Mellon universities.

The challenge is sponsored by the China-Africa Business Council and the China Social Assistance Foundation.