3rd Place at Equedi: $200 Scholarship Won

From left, James Daga, first place; Mir-Aedrees Sekandari, third place; and second place Hasini and Shravya Devi. April 17th, 2024.

A "Shark Tank”-style pitch event brought together student teams across Arizona for fast, high-pressure presentations in front of a panel of judges. Students walk in with a prepared idea and do their best to make it feel real in less than 20 minutes.

At the Equedi School Prize Pitch Competition, with approximately 40+ qualified teams watching, Mir-Aedrees Sekandari pitched ESONA and placed 3rd, earning a $200 scholarship.

Although the presentation geared towards hypothetical ideas, our pitch wasn't. It was ESONA's work, as it actually looks: the capabilities necessary to execute demanding ideas, what "impact" really is, and the on-the-ground needs. I highlighted one of our most urgent ideas, girls barred from education. By partnering with local organizations in the area, we've been funding tablets while avoiding Taliban attention to continue girls' learning even when school doors are closed.

Through the $200 Mir-Aedrees won, we were able to cover 3 refurbished tablets for girls and women in our education effort. The leftover 1,300 Afghani was used to perpetuate ESONA's food package distribution mission.