The Hero Awards, in collaboration with Afghan Women Rising, are spearheading an initiative to create the world's largest 'solution engine' for the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to CIO John Toomey, each of the UN's 169 targets under the larger goals is being transformed into prompts for AI bots, starting with platforms like OpenAI's GPTs, Gemini's Gems, and Claude Artifacts, and progressing to full-fledged AI assistants. These assistants can update themselves continuously, evolving into actionable workflows that drive progress toward the goals.
Afghan Women Rising, comprising young women in Afghanistan denied formal education under Taliban rule, are doing a large share of the work. They build the bots online and then engage in in-person discussions to refine the prompts and incorporate the human element. 'Having these girls design the prompts allows them to sidestep the ban against schooling,' says Program Director Amy Chang. 'They gain valuable experience building projects that contribute to sustainability both in and outside their country and prepare themselves for a future where their talents are vital.' The girls draw inspiration from the writings of J. Kutcher, particularly her metaphor of garden plant growth for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual growth of young women.
When a protocol is completed, its creator becomes eligible for a Hero Award, requiring the suggestion of previously unknown strategies for advancing UN targets. Successful efforts are publicized on the Hero Awards website and in press releases. Since the program's announcement six months ago, individuals from other Global South organizations have requested involvement. These include PARI (People's Archive of Rural India), serving underserved populations in rural India; Siku.org, a nonprofit for First Nations of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland; Cybersmartafrica.org, a network of teachers and students in Senegal preserving local cultures and improving digital literacy; Terrastories, an open-source application for South American and Amazonian indigenous communities to map oral histories; and Winyama, an Australian indigenous group using cultural mapping to document Dreamtime stories and songlines.
June Hero Award winners include Tara Jensen, Maria Ortiz, Herman Matsui, and Wilhelmina Searles. For more information, visit the Hero Awards Substack or the UN Goals and Targets page.
