I decided to join Team CORE and I was floored by the dedication and hard work seen at all teams at innoSpace. I was not too familiar with the intricacies of what it takes to be a part of a team like CORE. And yet, in a very short period of time I could already see how driven this group of students is as they actively build their impact on the world. I was once again inspired.

Before having moved to the Netherlands to receive my diploma here, I had never been truly exposed to the Egyptian education system. I was only ever included in an American and then later an International schooling system. So I am, by no means, an expert on the opportunities provided for students to step outside their educational boxes and create multidisciplinary solutions for pressing or even niche challenges.

However, I most definitely can trace the attitudes amongst my acquaintances or through the anecdotes shared with me which point to the following realisation: students/academics are more often confined to following a pre-hollowed-out path as dictated by several governing factors. This realisation, although saddening, served me some greater appreciation of the work done at innoSpace. To have a platform as such, to have the opportunity to grow your ideas and ambitions.

Taking Team CORE as our guiding example, Dirk van Meer (the CEO) and his talented team of engineers and managers, have taken it upon themselves to enable the recycling of e-waste which is now one of the largest contributors to the exhaustion of our planet as well as our own selves. To think that currently we are only recycling about 10% of all our e-waste is both shocking and disappointing to say the least.

This team has actively dedicated years to providing a solution. To that extent, the team showcased their test oven during their reveal event on the 20th of November. Hearing Dirk talk about the team from its inception to the current progression and seeing the whole team work together towards this common goal, was nothing short of extraordinary.

I gained more respect for all those teams and generally, the students who make it a point to create their own solutions, to innovate regardless of any secondary constraints. Here they are, still working as hard as they can, even in the face of a global pandemic.