Giving vision to 'blind', helping people in war zones: Meet change-makers who won UAE's Zayed Sustainability Prize

From projects to help war-hit people in Iraq to the bunch of volunteers performing eye surgeries for indigenous communities in Amazon forest, the ideas and initiatives of this year's Zayed Sustainability Prize winners stand to make a huge difference in countless lives.

The President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, presented the prestigious award to the 10 winners. Those who were selected for the categories of health, food, energy, and water received $600,000 each, while global high schools from six regions of the world got $100,000 each.

The inspiring bunch of change-makers spoke to Khaleej Times on how the prize will empower them.

Giving vision to the 'blind'

A nonprofit organisation from Brazil has been providing specialised medical and surgical care for indigenous communities geographically isolated within the Amazon. It has helped thousands of people through its mobile hospital complex.

“Getting this prize is going to be very good for us. Now, we will have more partners in helping us in what we do, which is to take care of affected people in those forests. This will help give new life to people,” said Dr Ricardo Affonso Ferreira, who co-founded Expedicionarios da Saude (EDS).

During six expeditions from 2015 to 2022, they performed more than 1,900 procedures, mostly cataract surgeries that improve vision.

“In the last expedition, we did more than 400 surgeries in a week. Several people there are blind and the next day after the surgery they can see, it’s a beautiful feeling. And the prize will be able to help a lot of people, the indigenous communities, and make this world a better one.”

• Zayed Sustainability Prize a global catalyst for sustainability, humanitarian action: Sheikh Mohamed

Turning insects into high-value ingredients

Ynsect is an SME from France producing insect protein and natural insect fertilisers. Europe’s first-of-its-kind insect factory is equipped with innovative vertical farming and integrated bio-refining setup.

Ynsect processes two insect species (molitor and buffalo mealworms) into high-end, high-value ingredients for the entire food chain—plants, fish, farmed animals, pets, and humans.

The company is currently building a new factory in France and operates two other sites in France and the Netherlands.

By 2025, Ynsect will be able to produce more than 1,500 tonnes of protein per month. In the past five years, Ynsect has improved the lives of 30 million people by delivering sustainable, natural, premium nutrition products for fish farming (as an alternative fish feed to meet aquaculture’s food supply needs) and human nutrition. The demo plant currently operated by the company produces 30 tonnes of protein production per month.

Powering up refugee camps

NeuroTech, an SME from Jordan, develops Al-based algorithms with a blockchain-based transaction system to bring reliable energy access to refugee camps.

The company ensures fairer distribution of energy in refugee camps and reduced energy bills for aid agencies. This was achieved by separating high-priority loads – such as medical devices and lighting – from low-priority loads, which include air-conditioning and electric heaters.

Heba Asa’d, founder of NeuroTech, said winning the prize enables her company to help even more people by funding the development of an interactive application encouraging both refugees and local communities to be more energy-efficient.

“It helps us contribute to a larger number of beneficiaries by launching new products to solve the various challenges faced by those most in need.”

• Look: UAE President welcomes world leaders attending launch of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023

• Energy in refugee camps, mobile hospital in Amazon: Zayed Sustainability Prize winners announced in Abu Dhabi

Providing clean water to disaster-prone areas

The Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society (Ledars), a nonprofit organisation from Bangladesh, integrated water resource management models to solve water scarcity issues in disaster-prone areas where water becomes unusable due to salinity and flooding.

Their combination of technologies help transforms communities in Bangladesh, so people can have access to safe drinking water and climate-smart livelihoods.

With the support of Ledars, 5,250 bio-sands-filters, 65 pond-sand-filters, 185 rainwater harvesting systems, and 69 protective ponds were installed in communities in Bangladesh, supporting cultivation of paddies and vegetables throughout the year on lands that were previously barren. Ledars initiatives created access to safe drinking water for at least 15,881 families. As a result of this solution, more than 12 million gallons of water have been saved.

Global high schools

The Americas

>> Fundacion Bios Terrae - ICAM Ubate, Colombia

Students proposed a ‘Community Air Quality Programme’ to address the air pollution crises and to improve the health of 200,000 people living in Ubate.

Two girl students highlighted how their school is trying to raise awareness among civil society, and now the prize has given wings to their programme.

“Thanks to the prize, we are going to make our idea into reality. Our priority is to clean the air as everyone is breathing in polluted air from the mines. Even babies are born with respiratory problems,” said Linda Bernal, a student.

“We are going to instal sensors in community areas to know where the air quality is bad and people must avoid staying there. We are also talking to the mining companies,” said Sandy Vargas, another student.

“We will start working with radio stations and use social media, and engage our policy makers on how to reduce air pollution,” she added.

Europe and Central Asia

>> Romain-Rolland Gymnasium from Germany

Students proposed to build a lighthouse powered by solar energy, an electrolysis-based fuel cell, and run workshops and events from inside the solar lighthouse. They created a space in which students can learn and experience for themselves what it means to develop sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel energy.

“We will be able to further develop our project. We want to expand this project to other schools. We want to get them into the process,” said Grade 12 students Sarah Sommer and Mark Kaplunow, who are here with their teacher Angela Köhler-Krützfeldt. “We need many more students to help us.”

Middle East and North Africa

“We can now implement the project. It will help the school in reducing electricity and water bills. This project can bring the bill to zero. And the money saved can be used to help the poor and needy students,” said teacher Rinal Rinay Prasad who is in Abu Dhabi with his Year 13 students Aqeelah Laylaa Ali and Nawaila Nafisha Ali (Year 13).