Three youth teams from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have celebrated their achievements at the British International Education Association’s 2021 International STEM Competition.
According to a statement issued by, the teams were challenged to investigate the plastic pollution crisis and develop sustainable food packaging both on a local and international level in line with the 2021 competition theme incorporating UN’s Sustainable Development Goals & COP26 mission.
While congratulating the winners, BIEA Head of STEM, Dr Alex Holmes, said, “It’s incredible that these youngsters, some aged under 10, have come up with these designs and are able to explain the development process clearly to real scientists.”
The Royal Institution Lead Judge, Peter Gallivan, said, “It has been a privilege spending time talking to young people all across the world about their ideas to help save the planet.
“The climate crisis is one of the greatest scientific challenges faced by humanity, and so it is inspiring to see the passion, enthusiasm and creativity shown by all the teams entering this year’s BIEA STEM Competition.
“The future will I am sure be a much greener place with some of these young people in charge.”
BIEA’s STEM Chairman, David Hanson, said the young students’ performance showed a level of great maturity and consideration to the current ecological issue facing the world.
The statement said the Nigerian team won the Ambassador Award. The team, Cyberspire of Greensprings School in Lagos looked to natural materials such as coconut and banana leaves for inspiration.
For the Rising Star Award winner, Team Kocokanya of Brookhouse School in Nairobi, designs included an unusual plant calabash container for storing dry foods and bee’s wax cloth bag for wrapping sandwiches.
Team Khalmax Robotics from Ghana, made up of 12-14-year-olds, made several paper mâché designs to store food.
Competition finalists from 13 countries included the UK, UAE, China, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland and Azerbaijan.
– Punch