Young Innovators Shine At CARIRI Power Up Competition
Imagination met problem-solving in a thrilling showcase as the 2026 CARIRI Innovation Nation Virtual Programme spotlighted 11 brilliant young visionaries.
The Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business hosted the 2026 Power Up Competition on Wednesday, providing a platform for young innovators to showcase their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Of the 11 brilliant young minds that delivered bold, innovative ideas, two winners emerged.
Claiming the Primary School title was Antoinette Kissoon, recognised for her inventive eco-spoon creation, and taking home the award for the Secondary School category was Malichi Senhouse for his creation of Venda TT – a mobile app designed to directly connect farmers in Trinidad and Tobago with consumers and businesses.
He said, « Each year, Trinidad and Tobago spends $4 billion on food imports, food that we can grow very well on our own, right here in our nation. That number even reached $7.8 billion in the fiscal year 2024. Meanwhile, farmers 20 minutes from that same market can’t find buyers. Their produce ends up rotting in the fields because there’s no way for them to actually find people who want to buy it. So in turn, farmers have to spend more money on imported vegetables, while that farmer 20 minutes down the road earns next to nothing. »
His solution: « Venda works by putting the farmer and the buyer on one app. A farmer lists what’s ready to harvest, and the household checks nearby listings, sees exactly which farmer it came from, and orders in just a few taps. So one shared system connects the two. »
Born in 2018 to bridge the innovation gap, the Innovation Nation Programme has since evolved into a dynamic hub of creativity for hundreds of students nationwide.
Chief Executive Officer of CARIRI, Hans-Erich Schulz, said each year, it empowers young minds to challenge the status quo and transform ideas into bold solutions.
« Remember that innovation is not about having all the answers. It is about having the courage to ask the right questions and the determination to pursue solutions. »
Republic Bank’s Manager of Corporate Security, Sherwin Forte, described the competition as more than a showcase of projects, calling it an opportunity to challenge norms and discover better alternatives for everyday life.
« The solutions you develop today may seem small, but every significant transformation starts with a single idea. An idea becomes a concept, a concept becomes a solution, and the solution has the power to make a difference. »
The CARIRI Innovation Nation Programme is a free, virtual, self-paced learning experience for young people aged 10 to 18, focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, entrepreneurship, and climate action.
