Kamil Muslim College wins USD$100,000 in the Zayed Sustainability Prize

Kamil Muslim College of Ba has won USD$100,000 at the 2023 Global High School Awards for the Zayed Sustainability Prize, held in Dubai.

This has been confirmed by the School Principal Shabinah Ali, who says their Maths and Physics teacher Rinal Prasad headed the project and two students, Aqeela Ali and Nawaila Ali were part of it.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented awards to 10 winners of the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize.

The Prize’s Awards Ceremony coincided with the beginning of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Kamil Muslim College representing the East Asia and Pacific region were one of the 46 high schools under its Global High Schools category from countries around the world.

The Principal says their team was confident about the proposal submitted.

She says they will arrive at the Nadi International Airport at 5am this Friday.

Ali also says a delegation from the College consisting of Administrators, staff, and families will be at the airport, to officially welcome the entourage back with the glory and will be hosted with breakfast.

The Principal further says as soon as the school receives the prize money, the projects will be pursued. Prasad says the school aims to have a full time solar power supply which will automatically fill spring water from the boreholes in the tank and provide water to the integrated fish farm.

He also says the school plans to have a bio-digestor to reduce waste, produce biogas, provide free health care services and health checkups for students and teachers twice a year to reduce the burden of diseases.

Prasad adds the project will reduce the burden of paying electricity bills as Kamil Muslim College is currently budgeting around $12,000 per year to pay electricity bills and about $1,200 on water bills.

He further says the project will solve this problem and compensate up to 40% of diesel generators used by Energy Fiji Limited.

Prasad says the student team at the college wishes to integrate sustainability principles in Eco-friendly projects throughout their school campus.

He adds Kamil has been striving to meet 17 sustainable development goals as an institution to become an exemplary school in Fiji, trying to combat climate change.

Prasad also says the sustainability project considering Climate Change and Global Health Conditions includes all four aspects Energy, Water, Food and Health.

He further says the solutions this project deploys will help the school generate renewable energy for free, allow full time spring water for the school and the fish farm ponds, free bio-gas for cooking at the school, clean and purified water for drinking, enable the school to have a sustainable centre which can form a hub.

Project leader with Public Works Minister, Ro Filipe Tuisawau [Image: Supplied]

The Principal also says they extend her appreciation to the Minister for Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau for his presence and humbleness in meeting and congratulating them.

She also says she extends her appreciation to the members of the Management Board of Kamil Muslim College and the Ministry of Education and the Fiji Government for the continuous support and guidance towards the prosperity and excellence of this prestigious institution.

Ali says this win is the first for Fijian Schools since the inception of the Zayed Sustainability Prize 15 years ago.