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Royal College qualify for ZFEP 2015 finals
View(s):The sustainability campaign launched by Royal College (RC) is one of four finalists of the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) 2015, in the Asian Region, for the first time from Sri Lanka.
Anura De Silva
ZFEP, known as a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, promotes sustainable living and adaptation of renewable energy worldwide. Under the Global High Schools category, in which RC has achieved this, the panel of judges will look for the best innovations introduced and implemented by schools to make the world environment friendly.
“The prize embodies the vision of our leadership for a more sustainable future, where renewable energy plays a significant role in the advancement of energy security, economic and social development, and the alleviation of poverty. Now in its the seventh year, the selection committee has identified breakthrough ideas, technologies and
Kamal Abeysinghe
academic proposals, that will positively influence the world, delivering access to energy and water to millions, championing sustainability and the deployment of renewable energy, and creating jobs and educational opportunities within the clean energy space,” said ZFEP Director General, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
RC is one of four finalists in the Global High Schools category, beating nearly 1,100 other contenders from 84 countries in the Asian region. Their project proposal for a National Green Energy Tech Centre, has been composed to ‘bring together all aspects of sustainable living under one roof, enabling students and like-minded people to learn, cooperate, develop, promote and actively support sustainable living in Sri Lanka’.
Upali Gunasekera - Principal
“What I believe is that the world should be a place where human beings can live forever. But the way things are happening, it is going the other way. What we are trying to do is support human lives for a better future,” said RC Principal Upali Gunasekara.
Mr. Gunasekara added that this awareness and exposure of students to the emerging realities will equip them with the required knowledge and attitudes to face future challenges, in addition to what they learn in the current education system. He said that, simultaneously, students can become socially sensitive young adults.
The adaptation of eco-friendly lifestyles has become a part of the school’s schedule for the past six years. Its Green Circle of Royal College Club, headed by the school’s hostel warden and teacher-in-charge of environment, Anura de Silva, is solely responsible for promoting sustainable habits among students.
Mr. Silva said that ZFEP 2015 is a great opportunity to take their environment friendly projects to an international arena. Heading their Club of nearly 500 students, of which 300 took part in the project, Mr. Silva is an ardent believer in practicality.
“I want to make things work. We have already implemented fractions of the proposal we sent to the ZFEP. Composting of school waste, using them to cultivate vegetables and fruits, and storing rainwater for agricultural purposes, are a few of them,” he explained, adding that, the ZFEP recognition is a great achievement for Sri Lanka. He added that their objective is to change the mindset of their students and teachers to adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
National Green Energy Tech Centre is the brainchild of EdEx Chairman and Trustee of RC Union Trust, Kamal Abeysignhe. Mr. Abeysignhe, said it’s a ‘group effort’, with everyone, from parents to principals, being part of a holistic eco-system which is supporting sustainability. He said this will be the future for children.
“Things will be different in time to come. For this we have adopted a concept called ‘sustainable living in a sustainable society’. By this we are molding our students to embrace sustainable living habits, practices, knowledge and skills, and then, even look at career options within this unfolding arena, as an eye opener for the whole country,” Mr Abeysignhe said.
The panel to judge the ZFEP 2015 finalists will include President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Former Prime Minister of Republic of Korea Dr. Han Seung- soo and President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Association, Kathy Calvin.
Winners of ZFEP 2015 will be announced on January 19, 2015.