ANFISA BOGDANENKO
RUSSIA, 19
Project: AXIOM Community
Cofounders: Alexei Matukhin, Georgy Budnik and Creeperina Yurchenko
Basic Human Needs: Education
In November 2017 Anfisa and her friend Alex competed and won first prize at the World Robot Olympiad in Costa Rica. Both from Primorsky Krai, Russia, the experience was unprecedented and thrilling for them. The feeling was bittersweet, as so few young people from their home region have access to, or awareness of similar opportunities. When they returned home, Anfisa and Alex began to mentor students in robotics at a local center. In May 2019 they collaborated to create AXIOM – a community that mentors, supports and inspires young innovators to pursue their ambitions in technology. AXIOM provides quality mentorship, online courses and free webinars in partnership with a local university. They also connect members within its network to form competition teams, fund projects and provide access to industry professionals for opportunities or mentorship. AXIOM chapters are growing across Russia, and AXIOM members have already created innovations with positive impact. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, four AXIOM members developed SensPin – a wearable mask clip that alerts users when they need to change their mask, helping prevent the spread of the virus. AXIOM also connected the SensPin team to other biologists in AXIOM network and to renowned molecular biotechnologist Vadim Kumeyko to collaborate and develop an antibacterial mask. Anfisa believes young people possess ideas that can change the world, but need help to pave the way.