SNU Enactus Miracle Wins Seed Prize with Reminiscence Worksheets for Mild Cognitive Impairment

Seoul National University Enactus Miracle Team Achieves Grand Prize at Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Seed Program with 'Momento Family Newspaper,' Opening the Door to Memories On the 17th, at the 15th Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Seed Program Competition held at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the protagonists of future society showcased brilliant innovations. In particular, the Seoul National University Enactus Miracle Team (students Lee Ye-rim, Ryu Jeong-eun, Choi Yi-jin, Lee Ju-hyun, An Shin-young) won the prestigious Grand Prize for their customized cognitive workbook, 'Momento Family Newspaper,' designed for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), known as a pre-dementia stage, thereby presenting new hope for the prevention and management of cognitive decline. While early detection and management of dementia are crucial, existing cognitive learning programs often bore patients, making it difficult to encourage sustained participation. The Miracle Team deeply empathized with this issue and developed the unique 'Momento Family Newspaper,' based on precious photos and heartwarming stories of the elderly individuals themselves and their families. This workbook goes beyond simple problem-solving; it is designed as an innovative, non-pharmacological cognitive stimulation tool that naturally stimulates patients' latent memories through reminiscence activities mediated by photos, and fosters deep emotional connection with caregivers. Content containing personal lives and memories adds to the enjoyment of learning and provides intrinsic motivation for maintaining cognitive function, thereby supporting continuous brain activity. A representative of the Miracle Team explained the development background, stating, "We aimed to create a workbook that allows the elderly to joyfully and continuously engage in brain activity without feeling bored." It is characterized by its focus on enhancing cognitive abilities in a customized manner by respecting each patient's unique life experiences and actively integrating them into the learning process. This award is the result of official recognition for the social value and potential as a sustainable business model of the 'Momento Family Newspaper.' The Miracle Team announced its ambition to, through active cooperation with nursing homes and welfare centers in the future, disseminate this customized workbook to more elderly individuals, thereby providing practical help to those suffering from mild cognitive impairment and their families. This is expected to be more than just a business model; it is greatly anticipated to become a warm social innovation that solves important problems in an aging society. Behind the Miracle Team's achievement were two pillars fostering innovative social entrepreneurs: the 'Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Seed Program' and 'Enactus.' The Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Seed Program supports initial operating funds for projects in their nascent stages to stably settle in the market and aims to discover and foster projects that combine social value with a sustainable business model. Furthermore, Enactus is a global university alliance organization with over 1,700 universities participating from 36 countries worldwide, dedicated to nurturing next-generation leaders who contribute to solving social problems through sustainable business models. This synergy of comprehensive support and education became the driving force that enabled the birth of innovative ideas like the 'Momento Family Newspaper.'