São Paulo – The Zayed Sustainability Prize opened submissions for organizations and high schools last Monday (27). The award recognizes pioneering sustainability projects across five categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Global High Schools. Entries this year are being accepted until May 21st on the Prize’s website. Pictured above, last edition’s awards ceremony.
The prize aims at rewarding impact, innovation, and inspiration. It’s 12 years old and saw a record-breaking number of submissions last year, with 2,373 entries received from 129 countries. The prize is a tribute to the founder of the UAE, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his commitment to sustainability.
Last year’s finalists featured a Brazilian school. Escola Sesi Djalma Pessoa in Salvador, Bahia was the only school in Brazil to be selected in the High School category. Two students and a teacher of the Bahia school attended the awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in early January but didn’t won.
The Prize’s USD 3 million fund rewards winners USD 600,000 in each category. But the Global High Schools category is split into six world region: The Americas, Europe & Central Asia, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia & Pacific. Each winning school receives up to USD 100,000 to start or augment their project in their local communities.
For the Health, Food, Energy and Water categories, organizations should demonstrate that they are improving access to essential products or services and have a long-term vision for improved living and working conditions. As for the schools, their projects should be designed to be student-led, with emphasis placed on the students be actively involved in the planning, implementation, and monitoring processes. Winners of the 2021 edition will be announced in January 2021.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
