In 2024, the Sunwah Foundation issued their annual Innovation Challenge.Through this challenge, GYLN chapters were asked to propose an innovative idea for a useful and functional product, service, or art-related project.

The MSU chapter of GYLN won fourth place for their Innovation Challenge project proposal “Libro, Norae, Dastan: Book, Song, Story.” This innovative project proposed a multilingual book of children’s stories and nursery rhymes from around the world, with each selection in the book translated into English and five other languages that are common needs in the Capital Area District Library. The proposed product would also include audiobook features aimed to promote cross-cultural learning and boost early childhood literacy levels among children born to immigrant parents.

This impressive proposal submitted by MSU’s GYLN Innovation Challenge team, made up of Nma Dhahir, Raymond Musiima, Harmoniee Scott, Chloe Stewart, and Grace Urban, earned them a fully funded international trip to Hong Kong and Korea. Chloe Stewart, Senior Vice President of the MSU chapter of GYLN, attended the Sunwah-sponsored trip, where GYLN members from across the world met with founders and CEOs of prominent businesses, learned about the process of initiating a start-up company, and pitched their innovative ideas to business and community leaders.

This impressive proposal submitted by MSU’s GYLN Innovation Challenge team, made up of Nma Dhahir, Raymond Musiima, Harmoniee Scott, Chloe Stewart, and Grace Urban, earned them a fully funded international trip to Hong Kong and Korea. Chloe Stewart, Senior Vice President of the MSU chapter of GYLN, attended the Sunwah-sponsored trip, where GYLN members from across the world met with founders and CEOs of prominent businesses, learned about the process of initiating a start-up company, and pitched their innovative ideas to business and community leaders.

In Korea, Chloe and the other GYLN members took part in business meetings across different districts in Seoul, enjoyed meals with business executives, and met the head chairperson of Seoul National University, the number one university in South Korea. Pursuing a minor in Korean at MSU, Chloe gained real-world experience practicing the language, and enjoyed being immersed in Korean culture, visiting the night markets in Seoul and trying popular dishes such as Korean barbecue.

“It was super exciting to be able to use my Korean with many of the business people we had meetings with, although it was a little challenging because I am only in my second year of Korean!”

In Hong Kong, the GYLN members visited the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where they learned from fellow students who are in the process of pitching their own startups. The GYLN members also pitched their innovation ideas and received feedback from professors from various universities in Hong Kong, visited the start-ups in the Hong Kong Science Park, and learned about cross-border relations and international business at the Canadian Embassy.

When asked about the biggest takeaways she learned from her engagement with these businesses and startups, Chloe shared:

“Korea is very open to new ideas and wants to have an innovative culture, so it was interesting to learn that their government has a whole section of funding for these start up companies….They provide their start ups with different resources such as office space at a discounted rate, which leaves more money for the startups to focus on getting off the ground. Similarly, we also learned that Hong Kong places an emphasis on innovative ideas, and encourages startup companies from other countries to come there to get their start."

In Hong Kong, Chloe was excited to meet the Chairman of Sunwah, and MSU doctoral graduate, Dr. Jonathan Choi, and was even asked to MC an event hosted by Dr. Choi, along with Professor Jin-Guang Teng, the President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and around fifty other heads of Sunwah’s partner businesses from across China, Japan, and Vietnam.

Chloe celebrated her 21st birthday in Hong Kong, and especially enjoyed riding the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and placing a lock at the top of the Namsan Tower.

“My favorite part of Hong Kong was getting to ride the ferris wheel and seeing the beautiful view of Hong Kong at night from the top. In South Korea, it was getting to go to the night market, eating the street food and going to all the different shops. It was an amazing, breathtaking experience.

Chloe also shared the following advice to other students who are interested in becoming more involved with GYLN and the Sunwah Foundation:

“Sunwah is very community focused, and they are willing to help you if you are doing something that would benefit the community and is also business-focused. Becoming involved with GYLN is a great way to get funding to be able to do community service projects if you are passionate about making an impact in your community.”

Alexandra Jarvis, the advisor for GYLN and Program Administrator at GYAN shared:

 "We are so proud of Chloe for representing MSU's chapter of GYLN. In addition to a full week of events, she accepted an invitation to emcee a formal dinner event that brought together GYLN members from across the globe as well as prominent members of the Sunwah network in Hong Kong. This was an honor, challenge and amazing growth opportunity that Chloe took on with enthusiasm!  We are grateful for the Sunwah Foundation's support of GYLN and providing students with these invaluable experiences."

About GYLN: Since 2020, the Global Youth Advancement Network (GYAN) at MSU has partnered with the Sunwah Foundation —the philanthropic arm of the Sunwah Group, a Hong Kong based international conglomerate. The Sunwah Foundation supports the Global Young Leaders Network (GYLN), a diverse, global community of outstanding young leaders who volunteer themselves to grow and develop global awareness, leadership skills, and commitment to public and social services. The GYLN chapter at MSU is the first chapter based in the USA, joining a network of ten existing chapters across the globe.

Students belonging to GYLN at MSU have an extraordinary opportunity to travel to international forums, as well as plan activities and service projects with financial backing from the Foundation and operational support from chapter coordinators.

Interested in joining GYLN? Email gyaninfo(at)msu.edu for more information.