Most 12-year-olds spend their days worrying about school, friends, or the latest games. But Rebecca Young noticed something different.
Walking through Glasgow’s streets, she saw homeless people curled up against the freezing cold. Their blankets were thin, their bodies shaking with every gust of icy wind. While most people walked past, Rebecca stopped. In her young heart, one thought burned:
“There must be a way to help.”
Rebecca began sketching. She imagined a backpack—not just for carrying things, but for survival. During the day, it would soak up the sun’s energy. At night, it would transform into a solar-powered heated blanket, wrapping someone in warmth and dignity.
It was bold. It was practical. And it came from the imagination of a 12-year-old girl who refused to look away.
Her design entered the UK Primary Engineer Leaders Award, competing against more than 70,000 entries. Out of all those ideas, Rebecca’s stood out—not just for its creativity, but for its compassion. Judges were moved. Engineers from global firm Thales believed in her idea so much that they built a working prototype.
When Rebecca held her medal, her words were simple yet powerful:
“To think something I’ve designed could one day help somebody in need is amazing.”
But perhaps the most inspiring part isn’t the invention itself. It’s the reminder that you don’t need to be an adult to change the world.
Rebecca didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t say she was too young. She saw something wrong—and she tried to make it better.
Her story proves that kindness can be engineered, and sometimes, the smallest hands can build the biggest hope.