2014 Zayed Sustainability Prize Winners in the Global High Schools category, Sub-Saharan Africa

By Principal George Kulaso

Our school, the Nkhata Bay Authority in Malawi, was the winner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Global High Schools (Sub-Saharan Africa region). This was an honour not just for our school, but indeed for our entire community. 

Last December, our school's delegation had the honour of attending the Prize Awards Ceremony at COP28 UAE. Joyce Mhango and Mary Zayed had the distinct privilege of highlighting the transformative impact that the Prize has had on our entire community. I then joined them in thanking the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support.

We shared the profound impact winning the Prize had on our community. A testament to this was Joyce's story of how Mary received her name in honour of Sheikh Zayed, being one of the first babies born in a well-lit health clinic, a direct benefit of our Prize victory.

For some context as to why this meant so much to us, Malawi is one of the least electrified countries in the world with only 5 percent of rural communities having access to power and electricity.

Winning the Prize enabled us to build the Zayed Solar Academy – the very first solar academy in Malawi targeting rural youth and women.

The Zayed Solar Academy initiated the formation of a solar curriculum in collaboration with the Malawi government. We are now a national college specialising in solar PV technologies, recruiting youth around the country. 

We are working towards becoming a centre for excellence for solar technologies and research. 

Thank you, Sheikh Zayed.