The Faafu Atoll Education Centre has earned the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Award in the South Asia category of the Global High Schools segment.

The Zayed Sustainability Award, launched in 2008 to honour UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, celebrates outstanding achievements that create lasting positive impacts on society.

The award was presented during the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates, attended by Maldives Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, who is also from Nilandhoo, the island home of the school.

The school’s recognition comes for a pioneering student-led project integrating wind and solar power, rainwater harvesting, water management, and sustainable agriculture.

Designed to strengthen food security, safeguard the environment, and enhance public health, the initiative aims to provide renewable energy for both the school and the island’s hospital, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 120 tonnes annually.

Inspired by the challenges of limited access to clean water and essential resources on Nilandhoo, students developed the project to deliver local solutions through collaboration and innovation.

They have already cultivated bananas and medicinal plants and plan to share their model with other schools and islands to promote wider community-driven sustainability.