'Put into practice what you learn' may be a common saying thrown around in the society but Sharon Nyambane is one who lives by it and is now making a living off selling her own art crafts after participating in women group empowerment program in Gesonso, Kisii County.

After enrolling in the program three years ago, Sharon has now gained skills and knowledge that have given her access to the economic opportunity she deserves. Trained by fellow group member, she learned how to make and sell bags, wallets, mobile phone holders, and hats, often creating the designs by recycling plastic bags. Sharon economically empowered herself through this endeavor, and now she trains and shares her knowledge with other members of the community.   Today, Sharon is a successful business women with a steady income.

Through her work, she has helped transform women's lives, giving them new opportunities to become financially self-reliant.  As a change-maker, Sharon has facilitated positive and sustainable change in her community and beyond.

Airtel has partnered with UP Magazine to launch a first of its kind award ceremony with an aim of recognizing many other Kenyans like Sharon.  Dubbed 'Design Thinking' (DXD- Disruption by Design), the award looks to reward innovative elements in Kenyan society in various categories which include Architecture Design, Communications Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Interactive Design- focusing on web design, gaming and mobile interfaces, Tech Design, Product Design- useful human based designs that improve life, Green Design- Covering de­signs that improve or enhance the environment.            

This award therefore creates a unique platform to recognize and reward creativity, power and influence of many young Kenyans with unique skills giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills which will help make positive and sustainable change beyond the Kenyan borders.

The selection criteria for all of the awards are excellence, innovation, and enhancement of the quality of life. Individual candidates must be citizens or long-term residents of Kenya and have been practicing de­sign for at least three years. Corporations and institutions must have their headquar­ters in Kenya. Corporations and institutions must have their headquar­ters in Kenya. Honorees are selected for a body of realized work, not for any one specific project.

 About the competition

Candidates are proposed by an Official Nominating Committee and are invited to submit materials for a jury's review. After the February launch event, submission will be welcome at www.dxd.co.ke. The DXD committee will oversee the events and submission process and the Grand Jury will conduct the voting exercises following the final submission dates. There is also a People's Choice Award for which the public can vote for and this fact will be revealed at the February 19th event when we introduce the dxd.co.ke website.

Submissions and entries, nominations and winners will be picked three months be­fore the scheduled gala night event date in November this year. Submissions will be due and vetted three months prior to this date.  Submissions and entries will close on August 31st, with nominations picked before the November event and the winners announced during the event.