Olenka Villarreal
Founder and CEO Magical Bridge Foundation
About the award
Recognises JA teams developing innovative solutions that promote inclusion and accessibility, with a particular focus on improving autonomy, dignity, and quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities, while still welcoming broader inclusive solutions.
How winners are chosen
Judging criteria
• Understanding of the Problem: Clear understanding of the problem, particularly how it affects people with intellectual disabilities in everyday life. • User Engagement: Evidence of some level of engagement with users or caregivers (even informal conversations or observations). • Practicality: Practicality of the idea in real-world settings, even if still at concept stage. • Impact: Potential to contribute to greater independence, dignity, or social inclusion over time. • Future Potential: Thoughtfulness around how the idea could evolve or scale if further developed. • Teamwork & Values: Demonstrates collaboration and commitment to inclusive principle
Meet the jury
Judges
Rodrigo Samwell
Senior Advisor EFG, and former CMO at ESL
Ellen van Deventer
Director Philanthropic Foundation, and co-Founder and Chair at ADAPT
2026 Winner Spotlight
LiftUp
Our project is an app that helps people with Down syndrome in their daily life. The app is easy to use and understand, with a simple and clear design so users can navigate it without difficulty. It…
Meet the team