Schoolathon on Sustainability

SOS 2023 - Winners

Celebrating the Success of the Schoolathon on Sustainability Competition 2023

After almost ten months of intense labour, planning and coordination, the remarkable journey of the ‘Schoolathon on Sustainability (SOS)’ competition 2023, a collaborative effort between Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) and Manav Rachna Educational Institutions (MREI) came to a successful close on 7 October 2023. This initiative was designed to inspire critical thinking and innovative sustainability solutions among the younger generation.

A Platform for Young Innovators:

The planning for the competition had started in December 2022. After intense brainstorming and ideation between BSG and MREI, the overall structure and shape of the competition was designed.

Registrations were opened in May 2023 and witnessed enthusiastic participation from nearly 150 teams nationwide. Divided into two categories, ‘Young Phoenix’ (Grades VI-VIII) and ‘Young Lions’ (Grades IX-XII), the competition went through two rounds of selection by a distinguished jury of sustainability experts. After a rigorous evaluation, 24 outstanding teams reached the grand finale.

Empowering the Next Generation:

The SOS competition provided a unique platform for young minds to share their ideas, collaborate, and develop innovative solutions. The competition was not just about winning but fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among the participants. It aimed to instil a commitment to sustainability and encourage the younger generation to take action on global challenges.

Honouring Innovative Solutions:

In the end, 12 winning teams emerged, with each team receiving a cash prize of INR 50,000. This support was made possible by the generosity of our sponsors, including Froovella India – A part of DJ Group, Cremica Food Industries Ltd., and The White Teak Company.

The winning teams for SOS 2023 were:

Winners for SOS 2023 - Young Phoenix Category (Grade 6 to 8)
S. No.	Category	Team Name	School Name	City	State
1	Category: Young Phoenix \| Theme: Planet	Planet Saviours	Graphite Higher Secondary School, Mandideep, Madhya Pradesh	Mandideep	Madhya Pradesh
2	Category: Young Phoenix \| Theme: People	Vigilantes	Manav Rachna International School, Charmwood, Haryana	Charmwood	Haryana
3	Category: Young Phoenix \| Theme: Planet	Techboys	Manav Rachna International School, Sector 14, Faridabad, Haryana	Faridabad	Haryana
4	Category: Young Phoenix \| Theme: Planet	Sahil	Sarvottam International School, Greater Noida West, Uttar Pradesh	Greater Noida	Uttar Pradesh
5	Category: Young Phoenix \| Theme: Planet	AGSC	Manav Rachna International School, Mohali, Punjab	Mohali	Punjab
6	Category: Young Phoenix \| Theme: Planet	The Chosen Ones	Manav Rachna International School 21 C, Faridabad, Haryana	Faridabad	Punjab

Winners for SOS 2023 - Young Lion Category (Grade 9 to 12)
S. No.	Category	Team Name	School Name	City	State
1	Category: Young Lion \| Theme: People	Aqua Warriors	Smart Wonders School Sector 71, Mohali, Punjab	Mohali	Punjab
2	Category: Young Lion \| Theme: Planet	Radiating Pioneers	Vivek High School, Chandigarh, Punjab	Chandigarh	Punjab
3	Category: Young Lion \| Theme: Planet	MRISN PrithWE	Manav Rachna International School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh	Noida	Uttar Pradesh
4	Uttar Pradesh Category: Young Lion \| Theme: People	Young Lion	Satya School, Sec 49, Gurugram, Haryana	Gurugram	Haryana
5	Category: Young Lion \| Theme: Planet	EcoSpark	The HDFC School, Pune, Maharashtra	Pune	Maharashtra
6	Category: Young Lion \| Theme: Planet	Stubble Trouble	Manav Rachna International School, Faridabad, Haryana	Faridabad	Haryana

All student of all the approximately 150 teams who had registered for the competition also received a participation certificate.

Outstanding Jury Members:

The jury for the grand finale comprised of experts from the field of sustainability, who grilled the teams with questions pertaining to their unique ideas and projects.

The jury included:

Mr Vikas Verma, Regional Head, North India, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Dr Neha, Senior Fellow and Area Convenor, Strategic Communications for Sustainability, The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI)

Dr Pranab J Patar, CEO, Chief Executive, Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment and Human Wellness (GFAEHW)

Dr Ruby Makhija, Founder and Director, Why Waste Wednesdays Foundation (WWWF)

Ms Vasundhara Srivastava, Program Director, Core Team Member (India), Raspberry Pi Foundation

Inspiring Quotes from the Event:

During the event, esteemed guests shared their insights:

Mr. Sanjeet Singh, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog, who was the Chief Guest for Session 1 of the competition, emphasized the need for sustainable human behaviour and mindfulness toward all life forms.

Dr. Pranjal Patil, Additional Director, Education, Govt of Delhi, who was the Chief Guest for Session 2 of the competition, highlighted the importance of our actions today in shaping our sustainable or unliveable future.

Mr. Manav Gohil, Actor, who was the Guest of Honour for the competition, emphasized the imperative nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the need for a shift in mindset.

Showcasing Sustainable Human Behaviour:

The event also featured a sustainability exhibition titled ‘Seeds of Hope & Action: Making the SDGs a Reality’. This exhibition emphasized the power of one person in building sustainable world.

We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of all the participants and are excited about the positive impact their innovative ideas can have on achieving the SDGs. The SOS competition was a testament to the potential and commitment of our young generation in creating a more sustainable and harmonious future.

Watch out for the next SOS competition as we continue to champion sustainability and empower our youth to be the change-makers of tomorrow.

Scroll through the pictures below to have a glimpse of the grand finale of the SOS competition.