MUSCAT : Four Grade 9 students from Ahmed Bin Majid International School took centre stage at Oman Climate Week, showcasing their award-winning vision for a sustainable city and receiving recognition from the Environment Authority of Oman for their achievement.

The students, Lujain bint Hamed Al Wahaibi, Mariam bint Fahmi Al Harmali, Marya bint Sulaiman Al Hatmi, and Algharraa bint Ali Gharbal, presented their project to dignitaries, environmental experts, and visitors attending Oman Climate Week.

The students had earlier won the Sustainability Award in the UNESCO CIPP 2025 Awards, competing among approximately 30,000 participants worldwide. They received the award during an online ceremony held in China.

At Oman Climate Week, the young innovators presented their sustainable city project at the ABM exhibition booth, explaining their ideas and engaging with visitors about the importance of creating more sustainable communities. Their achievement was further recognized during the closing ceremony, where HE. Dr. Abdullah Bin Ali Al Amri President of Environment Authority Chair of Oman Climate Week Steering Committee honored the four students and presented each with a certificate.

Rayyan bint Najim Al Timami, ABM Board Member, said: “As a Board Member, I am immensely proud to see our students turn their ideas into meaningful impact. Their achievement in the CIPP Sustainability Project reflects the kind of future we believe in, one led by young, responsible, innovative thinkers. Today, we celebrate their success; tomorrow we look forward to seeing them become the changemakers.”

The achievement reflects ABM International School’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental education through initiatives including the Green Ablution Project that combines Faith-Sustainability- and Education. “We repurpose recycled wudhu water to irrigate the trees on campus and those outside of the campus, the Hypotonic Greenhouse Project aligned with the Food Wastage Club, and EcoNova Club to generate more innovative sustainability ideas, as well as recycling, beach cleanups, and other student led projects supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” remarked the official.

Dr. Madiha Jlassi, ABM UNESCO Supervisor, said: “We are immensely proud of this global achievement, which recognizes our students’ creativity, innovation, and dedication through the CIPP project. It reflects their ability to turn ideas into meaningful projects and compete on a global stage. We will continue to support and inspire their talents, fostering a culture of innovation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO’s goals.”

It was a wonderful experience to guide our students through the ECO NOVA project. Sultan Haitham City served as a key inspiration, embodying the vision of a smart and sustainable city and aligning closely with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 for Sustainable Cities and Communities as well as Oman’s Vision 2040, noted Nithya Ramamoorthy, Biology & General Science teacher.

“The team engaged in extensive brainstorming, with each discussion sparking new ideas to refine the project and deepen its focus on sustainability and care for the environment. As their mentor, I felt privileged to support them in research, teamwork, and presentation. It is a proud moment indeed to see their creativity and dedication recognized not only with the prestigious CIPP Award, but also at Oman Climate Week, where their work stood out as a testament to youth innovation and commitment to sustainability,” she said.

“We are truly proud to have reached this milestone together. We are grateful to everyone who supported us along the way and helped us overcome challenges that once felt impossible, like balancing schoolwork with our project. Through this project, we strengthened our teamwork and communication, turning difficult tasks into achievable goals,” noted Mariam bint Fahmi Al Harmali.

This accomplishment is more than just winning an award, it is about the unforgettable memories we created the pride we brought to our teachers, parents and our school, and most importantly, the lasting friendship we built, noted Al Harmaliya on behalf the EcoNova CIPP teammates.

For ABM, Oman Climate Week provided a meaningful platform for students to share their work, engage with the wider community, and demonstrate how young people can contribute to Oman’s sustainability journey.