A team of four students at Bloomfield Hall School in Pakistan won the first Sustainability Award, a new category in the competition, initiated by our Director for Climate Education, Christine Özden. Their investigation into the use of raw materials to construct buildings without using steel and cement was selected for being thought-provoking and looking for local solution to global problem.
Reflecting on the competition, the team members said:
‘It was a great experience to work with my teammates. We all were passionate about building a home without steel and concrete which have a large carbon footprint. Everyone was determined and we worked as a team through the different stages of the project.’ – Aryaan Asif
‘I had an amazing experience working and cooperating as a team in which every team member showed great enthusiasm in contributing to the project. Linking our project to the Sustainable Development Goals felt rewarding.’ – Aiman Kamran
‘I especially enjoyed when we aligned the riverbed stones upon the mixture of limestone and mud. It was overall an enjoyable experience and working as a team made it better.’ – Noor Mehr
‘Working on this project was something I’ve never experienced before. I learnt how to keep important variables in mind when working with people, overcoming different problems and dealing with negative comments while still pushing through.’ – Shanzy Affan Aziz
The judges said they were “…delighted with the scale of the ambition of the group… The use of cement and steel [in construction] and the significant carbon footprint related to the creation of these materials presents a global challenge. The team chose not to look for a new technological solution but for a local solution, and also draw on the knowledge and know-how of their ancestors… The background and research phase was thorough and enlightening. The work made strong links between environmental and economic factors. Skills such as creative problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration are crucial as we look for solutions and ways to mitigate climate change and adapt to a more sustainable way of living.”
Classmates Rayyan Rehan, Faraiz Haider, Zoha Izhar, Zyna Malik and Asad Kabir were declared the best in Pakistan, a huge achievement for the students and teachers at Bloomfield Hall school.