Wicklow student honoured for ingenious app that helps people manage diabetes
St Mary's College in Arklow student Sofiia Shevchuk with Dahab Sharaby (Teen-Turn Lead Mentor) at the Technovation Ireland Regional Pitch Event at AMD in Dublin. Photo: Robbie Reynolds Photography
Sofiia Shevchuk, a third year student from St Mary's College in Arklow, received the award for her outstanding work in developing an app, SweetHealth, which allows users to easily track blood sugar, meals, activity, and mood in one place through smart AI technology providing personalised advice based on each user's data.
The app also includes features like barcode scanning for diabetes supplies and accessibility options for users with vision challenges.
Fourteen-year-old Sofiia was one of 65 app enterprise projects pitching at the event, which formed part of the global Technovation competition. As a result, Sofiia will be presenting her app at the global semi-finalist round later this year.
As Sofiia explained, she was inspired to create the app after noticing how often people, including herself, underestimate their sugar intake, noting that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the percentage of adults living with diabetes has doubled from 7pc in 1990 to 14pc in 2022.
'After learning about the health risks of excess sugar, I wanted to create a tool that would make it easier for everyone to keep tabs on what they're consuming,' Sofiia said.
Teen-Turn, an Irish non-profit organisation that provides teen girls the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience and support to acquire qualifications and jobs, provided Sofiia with support in developing an app for the first time for Technovation.
Through a 12-week programme, Sofiia, along with other participants, received guidance from industry and academic mentors, learning skills in market research, business planning, and coding, to develop her app.
'Every session felt so uplifting and inspiring, filled with hands-on activities, lively group discussions, and genuine encouragement,' Sofiia continued.
'The mentors were always helpful, especially Yuri from Microsoft, who provided clear guidance and practical advice whenever I faced technical challenges.'
Reflecting on the experience, Sofiia says she is now considering a career in science and technology, adding: 'I discovered how much I enjoy problem-solving and using technology to make a real difference in people's lives.
'In fact, the experience inspired me so much that I now want to study medicine at Trinity College, because I believe that we should help those in need and use our skills to make a positive impact on the world.
'Looking back on the day, a highlight was seeing the other teams' projects. It was inspiring to witness so many creative ideas and to learn from the diverse approaches others took. Being part of such an innovative community was truly motivating.
'After finishing my pitch and answering the judges' questions, I felt a huge wave of relief. Their encouraging words and positive feedback left me feeling accomplished, grateful, and even more passionate about continuing with my project.'
When asked about her plans for the future with the app, Sofiia says she plans to add new features to the app and reach more users.
'I'm also looking forward to participating in more TeenTurn events and collaborating with others on new projects, such as developing an app for pregnancy,' she said.
'Looking ahead, I hope to grow my company and work with national government organisations to help supply medication to those in developing countries, because I believe everyone deserves access to essential healthcare. The experience has opened up so many opportunities, and I'm excited for what's next.'
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