Education

UAE federal government entity, awarded AED 20,000 grant

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai has received a Verified Impact Project stamp for its initiative, Seeding Sustainability Program, aligned with Sustainable Impact, ESGs, and SDGs in the UAE. This innovative program by Water Alliance, delivered by MAHE Dubai’s students across schools in the UAE, was selected among the top 20 projects nationwide in Majra's Sustainable Impact Challenge 2025, earning an AED 20,000 grant.

The program supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 14 (Life Below Water), while advancing the COP28 legacy of climate action in the UAE. The recognition comes during the UAE's Year of Community, underscoring MAHE Dubai's commitment to fostering environmental stewardship and youth-led community engagement.

Seeding Sustainability adopts a unique peer-led approach, with students from the Manipal Environment Conservation Students (MECS) Club serving as mentors and educators to primary school students. To date, it has impacted more than 780 students across three schools through interactive, gamified sessions promoting zero-waste living.

“Sustainability, to me, has never just been an initiative, it’s a responsibility,” said Lead Coordinator Affan Ahamed Hussain, reflecting on the journey from a university environment club meeting to presenting at COP28. “What began as a humble initiative quickly transformed into a movement. We believed in first educating ourselves before taking that wisdom to where it was needed most: to school children and impacting local communities.”

The program’s success lies in its dual-layered learning model. University volunteers undergo training by Water Alliance before engaging with school students, allowing them to deepen their own knowledge while teaching. “Student volunteers from MAHE Dubai had to undergo training by Water Alliance. As many were engaging with sustainability education for the first time, the initiative became a dual-layered learning experience – where students learned as they taught,” explained Dr. Bhakti More, Head of the Centre for ESG at MAHE Dubai.

Community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Ms. Joyeeta Bhattacharya, former Principal of Woodlem Park School in Ajman, said: “The students who participated were thrilled, and the school received encouraging feedback from parents. We were glad to be part of a program that made a tangible impact on environmental awareness and behaviour change.”

The initiative uses pre- and post-surveys to track behavioural changes and knowledge retention, ensuring evidence-based impact assessment in line with Majra’s evaluation criteria.

Former Program Director at Water Alliance, Edurne Gil de San Vicente, highlighted the program’s intergenerational approach: “This program’s strength lies in Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai students becoming changemakers in primary schools, creating a ripple effect of environmental awareness across communities.”

With the AED 20,000 grant from Majra, MAHE Dubai aims to expand the initiative to reach 5,000 students in the coming year by collaborating with schools to integrate the program into curricula and extending it into residential communities.

Linda Merieau, former Executive Director of Water Alliance, praised the collaboration: “Seeding Sustainability reflects what’s possible when bold partnerships meet passionate youth. Thanks to the collaboration with MAHE Dubai and strong institutional support, we’ve shown that empowering the youngest generation to lead on zero-waste living can truly reshape the future.”

This recognition places Seeding Sustainability among the UAE’s top sustainability projects, contributing to the Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. It underscores the vital role of education in shaping the next generation of sustainability leaders during the UAE’s Year of Community under the theme Hand in Hand.

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