South African pupils are using generative AI to design sneakers made with recycled materials as part of an international challenge involving schools around the world. Learners from more than 30 schools gathered last month at the Amazon Think Big Space in Cape Town to begin the Amazon Think Big Community Challenge, run in partnership with performance footwear company Brooks Running. Over the coming months, teams of pupils aged between 13 and 16 will develop designs for Brooks sneakers using an AI-powered application built on Amazon Web Services cloud and AI technology. A judging panel will select 10 finalist teams from participating countries before choosing an overall winner. Each member of the winning team will receive a pair of Brooks sneakers customised with the team’s submitted design. The programme gives learners an opportunity to use AI for a specific creative task instead of encountering it only through classroom explanations or general-purpose chatbots. “We believe cloud and AI technology can help learners unlock their full potential,” said Paul Meaney, director of infrastructure operations at AWS. The challenge also introduces learners to questions around materials and sustainability, as their designs must consider the use of recycled materials. The Cape Town gathering also launched the Coding4Africa Mandela Month campaign, a STEM education initiative that uses physical coding games. The campaign will culminate in the Tangible World Cup on 5 November 2026. The sneaker challenge comes as schools and employers grapple with a shortage of advanced digital skills. UNESCO estimates that sub-Saharan Africa will need another 6.3-million teachers to achieve