Inter-Schools Echo Competition: Students encouraged to drive Sustainable Change

Grand Sable Government School and Dr Regis Chaperon SSS emerged as the grand winners of the Inter-Schools Echo Competition at primary and secondary levels respectively, showcasing the commitment of young Mauritians towards waste reduction and environmental sustainability.

The winners were rewarded today at a ceremony held at Voilà Hotel, Bagatelle. The competition, organised under the Destination Zero Waste Programme Mauritius. It brought together some 50 students from primary and secondary schools including Rodrigues, aimed at fostering civic responsibility and eco-consciousness among students and encouraging them to protect and preserve local biodiversity.

The Junior Minister of Tourism, Mrs Anabelle Savabaddy, the Director of Reef Conservation, Mrs Kathy Young, the Director of Tourism Authority, Mr Loganaden Muneesamy, as well as other personalities were present at the ceremony.

At primary level, Grand Sable Government School secured first position, followed by New La Tour Koenig Government School in second position and Philippe Rivalland RCA in third position. At secondary level, Dr Regis Chaperon SSS came first, with Loreto College Rose Hill and New Eton College taking second and third positions, respectively.

In her address, Junior Minister Savabaddy underpinned that the future of Mauritius rests on the youth and called for environmental sensitisation to be extended to all schools across the country. She underlined the importance of instilling a change in mindset from a young age and educating children on environmental protection so that they grow into responsible citizens.

She also highlighted the link between environmental sustainability and tourism, noting that visitors increasingly value clean and sustainable destinations. She encouraged young people to become ambassadors for environmentally friendly practices and to promote the good practices among their families and communities, thereby contributing to a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Mauritius.

Mrs Young underlined that the initiative sensitised students on the volume of waste generated annually, its impact on the environment and the importance of adopting sustainable consumption practices. She lauded the participants for demonstrating that young people can be leaders of change, adding that actions initiated in schools can have a positive influence on the wider community. She reiterated Reef Conservation’s commitment to empowering youth in environmental protection and conservation.

Mr Muneesamy indicated that the country generates around 600,000 tonnes of waste annually and stressed the need for innovative solutions to reduce this figure. He called on young people to lead by example in promoting sustainable tourism, creating jobs and supporting income opportunities.

The competition was organised by the Tourism Authority, in collaboration with Reef Conservation and the TUI Care Foundation. It provided students with an opportunity to showcase creative and innovative projects promoting waste reduction, recycling, composting, upcycling and environmental sustainability.

24 September 2026

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Topics: Environment