Our Innovation Award Winners

The Firefly Project, aims to break the taboos surrounding grief in school communities. The project combines psychoeducation with design challenges, equipping participants with the skills to navigate grief and fostering a more compassionate and equitable environment.

Co-founded by multi-award-winning designer Jenna Maudlin, the initiative was inspired by her own experiences with loss and her work co-designing bereavement services with young people disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. She saw firsthand how stigma and lack of grief literacy prevented many from seeking help until they were in crisis, and further exacerbated existing inequalities.

Determined to change this, Jenna and her team launched The Firefly Project to provide young people, educators, and communities with a safe space to openly discuss grief, and learn how to help themselves and others through interactive workshops. Their unique approach combines psychoeducation with a design challenge, where they co-create emotional health tools for their school. Equipping them with the skills and understanding to navigate grief, while fostering empathy and emotional well-being. The Firefly Project seeks to create a future where no young person feels alone in their grief, breaking down barriers and building a more compassionate and equitable world for all.