Transformative initiative aims to inspire high school students to ‘reimagine energy’
KUWAIT: bp Kuwait in collaboration with IDRAK Training and Consultancy has launched a transformative initiative aimed at inspiring high school students to reimagine the future of energy through STEM-focused innovation.
In a press statement, Mubarak Jassim Aljassim, Chairman of IDRAK, emphasized the importance of corporate partnerships in youth development, stating: “We are proud to partner with bp in delivering this impactful program. It’s part of both our organizations’ commitment to corporate social responsibility and national development. This initiative supports Kuwait’s Vision 2035 by investing in the future leaders of science, technology, and sustainability.”
He added: “After the initial screening, we provided selected students with training sessions on various STEM topics. bp’s team contributed with their technical knowledge, while we supported them in project development and presentation skills.”
Adel Alansari, Communications and External Affairs Specialist of bp Kuwait, highlighted the social investment program’s scope and purpose, noting that the program started with a wide pool of student applicants. After multiple screening phases, they reached a final selection of around 50 students who are presenting their projects today to a panel of esteemed judges, adding “This program wouldn’t have been possible without our social investment partner, IDRAK Training and Consulting, whose support has been instrumental.”
Mubarak Jassim Aljassim, Chairman of IDRAK, and Judge Anar Aliyev, review a project by one of the teams.
Teams from from several schools across Kuwait showcase their submissions to the “Reimagining Tomorrow: Kuwait’s Youth in STEM” initiative.
(From left) Nada ElGhossein, Mubarak Jassim Aljassim, Anar Aliyev, and Adel Alansari pose for a photo at the event.
The initiative, named “Reimagining Tomorrow: Kuwait’s Youth in STEM,” aims to bridge the gap between STEM education and real-world challenges in sustainability and energy. He noted that students were tasked with developing practical solutions in the field of alternative energy and environmental sustainability.
Nada ElGhossein, Director of IDRAK, announced the launch of the program, which invites students from grades 9 to 12 to develop projects aligned with Kuwait’s Vision 2035 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She affirmed to Kuwait Times that they wanted to allow students to apply STEM in a way that directly benefits their communities and the environment.
She added: “The competition received proposals from 22 schools, predominantly private institutions. After a rigorous selection process conducted by a panel of engineers and environmental scientists, where 11 teams advanced to the final round.
ElGhossein noted that among the standout projects were a robotic device designed to collect marine waste, fully coded and 3D-modeled, vertical gardens irrigated using recycled water from school sinks, biodegradable “seed bombs” designed to grow greenery in barren spaces, a product made from everyday waste materials embedded with seeds, transforming litter into plant life, and an educational climate-themed escape room simulating past, present, and future environmental conditions in Kuwait.
She added, “It’s the first program of its kind for high school students in Kuwait. While we often see such opportunities at the university level, this program bridges that gap by engaging younger students in real-world problem-solving.”
She indicated that the initiative also reflects IDRAK’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility while providing professional training in sectors such as oil, banking, and leadership development, its CSR efforts focus on preparing high school students for the workforce by helping them explore potential career paths and societal challenges.
“Our goal is to equip students with the skills and awareness they’ll need when they enter the job market. This competition is one way we help them connect what they learn in school with the real world,” she explained.
The judging panel includes professionals from a variety of sectors, including Mrs. Mona Salem, General ICT Supervisor at the Ministry of Education and Sarah Al-Hubail, Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Zain Kuwait. Anar Aliyev, General Manager of bp Kuwait who was also on the panel stated: “The students are presenting on diverse topics all related to renewable and green energy, all aligned to the UN Sustainability Development Goals.”
He added: “We are judging them based on six categories: relevance to the topic, feasibility, scalability, STEM integration, presentation quality, and alignment to the UN SDG’s, each scored on a scale of 1 to 5.”
Aliyev praised the creativity and depth of knowledge exhibited by the students, saying: “I’ve been following their work online and was truly impressed by their ideas. This generation gives me great hope. These students are the future of Kuwait, and they are the ones who will help transition it from an oil-dependent economy to one powered by alternative forms of energy.”
He added that Kuwait, rich in hydrocarbons, must now look toward a sustainable energy future, explaining that this initiative not only educates but also empowers the next generation to lead that transformation.
At the end of the event, winners were honored, and the first place went to the “Green Horizons” team from American United School. The winning team received a prize of KD 1,000, which they may choose to invest in further developing their project. The second place went to “Smart Sprout” from Al Bayan Bilingual School, and third place to “Sea Clean” from Al Ghanim Bilingual School.
KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kuwait opened a condolence book, on Monday, to honor the victims of the recent aggression against Iran. The event was attended by officials, ambassadors, and media. Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Toutounchi expressed his appreciation for the positions of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, especially Kuwait, regarding the recent events, noting that Kuwait’s Foreign Minister had called his Iranian counterpart in a gesture that reflects the strength of bilateral relations, describing the presence of ambassadors at the embassy as “Noteworthy and Positive.”
The ambassador said in a statement that his country endured twelve days of intense aggression by the Zionist entity, joined by the United States in the final two days, explaining that Iran faced simultaneous attacks from countries equipped with nuclear capabilities and advanced technology, backed by NATO. He emphasized that the planners of this aggression had expected Iran to collapse within days. However, “The unity of the Iranian people inside and outside the country formed a formidable barrier.” He added that US intervention came only after ten days of failed efforts to achieve any ground breakthrough.
Toutounchi revealed that the number of victims exceeded 620 martyrs, with more than 5,356 wounded, including 13 children and 43 women, some of whom were pregnant, adding “Seven hospitals, six health centers, and dozens of ambulances were destroyed. These martyrs cannot be replaced whether they were children, military leaders, or academics, calling for the Zionist entity and the United States to be held accountable before international bodies to prevent such crimes from recurring.
Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Al-Manhal Al-Safi
Sudanese Ambassador to Kuwait Awadal-Karim Balla.
Regarding Iran’s nuclear program, the ambassador reiterated Iran’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), pointing out that the country’s nuclear program, which represents less than 3 percent of global peaceful nuclear activities, has undergone over 23 percent of international inspections. He argued that this high inspection rate indicates no deviation toward military objectives.
He disclosed that Iran had recently agreed to five rounds of indirect negotiations aimed at reviving the diplomatic track and ensuring the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. He also stressed that Iran’s response against US military and intelligence bases in Qatar was a legitimate act of self-defense and was not directed at any neighboring countries, affirming Iran’s full respect for their sovereignty. He noted that Iran had communicated with Qatari leadership to clarify its position, stating that military bases in neighboring countries used by US forces cannot be considered safe havens for launching attacks.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Al-Manhal Al-Safi expressed his deep gratitude to Kuwait’s leadership, government, and people for facilitating the return of over 3,000 stranded Iraqi citizens by issuing more than 3,500 transit visas in just 12 days. The Iraqi ambassador affirmed his country’s full solidarity with Iran and condemned the aggression, revealing that Zionist aircraft had breached Iraqi airspace, prompting Baghdad to file an official complaint with the UN Security Council.
In the same context, the Sudanese Ambassador to Kuwait Awadal-Karim Al-Rayah Balla offered his condolences to Iran, describing the incident as “A blatant and unacceptable attack.” He called for regional unity to confront shared challenges, emphasizing that the targeting of Iran threatens all free peoples in the region. He urged a joint response to protect stability and to revive the Palestinian cause as a priority. The Sudanese envoy also pointed to the double standards in the international system, calling for crises to be addressed through international legitimacy rather than the imposition of forceful agendas.
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