The Guam Green Growth (G3) Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub is helping answer this question, with sustainability built in from the earliest stages of product development.

As part of its ongoing partnership with JA Guam, G3 Makerspace introduced around 48 high school students to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Saturday, Oct 10, during JA’s Masterclasses, discussing how to incorporate sustainability into their business models.

JA Guam Executive Director Joshua Miller said the two-day Masterclass forum is part of the organization’s 20-week Company of the Year Program, which gives students the opportunity to develop and operate their own businesses. 

Miller said the partnership with G3 provides students with opportunities to gain practical experience in manufacturing while connecting with professionals who can help them develop their products. 

“It’s not just about producing products sustainability or with circular economy, right? It’s also about the networks that they develop,” Miller said. 

Beyond providing resources and guidance, G3 also participates in the program’s annual competition by helping judge student companies based on their sustainability practices. 

G3 Circular Economy Coordinator Abby Crain said the partnership, which began in 2022, provides students with consultations, technical guidance and access to manufacturing equipment to help turn their ideas into physical products. 

Crain said one of the challenges students face is understanding the word involved in manufacturing a product, from sourcing materials to determining production costs and whether their ideas are achievable. 

Through consultations, the G3 team helps students navigate these challenges while encouraging them to consider sustainability throughout the development process. 

For Crain, the experience also provides an opportunity for students to gain a greater appreciation for locally made products. 

“Mainly, I hope they really take away a little bit more of, like, a supply chain, like, understanding how things are made, and I hope that they find pride in the things that they make, and appreciate handmade things, or Guam-made things,” Crain said.

During the Masterclasses, G3 representatives Jaret Castro and Camarin Quitugua discussed how the SDGs can guide students in developing products that benefit their communities. 

For Auralorae Camacho, a freshman at John F. Kennedy High School, learning about the SGDs encouraged her to think about how her team’s business could address issues affecting Guam. 

Camacho said her team is considering SDG 14, Life Below Water, while exploring other ideas for a product inspired by Guam’s endangered animals. She also expressed interest in SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, which she connected to her hopes for the island’s future. 

Beyond the SDGs, Camacho said learning about the Makerspace helped her recognize the opportunities available to young entrepreneurs on Guam. 

“It’s like it doesn’t seem so far away anymore,” Camacho said. “Like, you know, all the opportunities are in the States. Like, no, it’s on Guam.”

JA alumnus Alexander Cruz also shared his experience working with the Makerspace to develop Guam-themed chess sets through the program. 

Now serving as a JA alumni mentor, Cruz said he noticed sustainability is becoming an important consideration for students as they develop their business ideas. 

Beyond helping students develop their products, Crain said the partnership has also opened doors for students to gain further experience through internships with Guam Green Growth. 

She said several former JA participants have gone to intern with G3, with some later gaining admission to universities such as Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

The experience of former JA participants show how involvement with the Makerspace can extend beyond the classroom, providing opportunities for students to develop skills and pursue their education and careers.