ISUTC Olympics recognize innovative solutions for waste management

The Higher Institute of Transport and Communications (ISUTC) held the final of the first edition of the ISUTC Olympics – Challenge for Secondary Schools on Saturday, September 19th. The initiative brought together 30 students, organized into 10 teams from secondary schools, who presented projects aimed at transforming waste into a useful resource for families and communities.

With this project, ISUTC aimed to challenge students from the City and Province of Maputo to identify problems related to solid waste management and to develop viable solutions with social and environmental impact.

During the ceremony marking the final stage of the project, the Higher Institute of Transport and Communications announced the creation of the Olympics Scholarship, intended for the 30 students who participated in the final phase. If they enroll at ISUTC in the next academic year, the graduates may also benefit from discounted tuition fees.

“This decision was made during the event to recognize the effort, excellent work, and dedication of all the students involved. The 30 students who took the stage and presented their projects will have access to the Olympics Scholarship if they enroll at ISUTC.”"This was the first step," added Luís Almeida, Managing Director of Transcom.

The Director-General of ISUTC, José Leopoldo Nhampossa, highlighted, in turn, the quality, creativity, and sense of responsibility demonstrated by the participants. According to him, "more than selecting winners, the Olympics allowed students to transform real problems in their communities into structured ideas, defend them in public, and demonstrate that knowledge can be applied to creating solutions for Mozambique."

Held as a pilot project in the City and Province of Maputo, the first edition of the Olympics involved around 900 students, strengthening the connection between secondary and higher education. ISUTC now intends to consolidate the initiative and gradually expand it to other provinces of the country.

The Cantinho do Céu Children's Center & Day School won first place with the Shift Project. Matola Secondary School came in second, and Matola-Gare Secondary School came in third.

The Shift Project proposes waste management starting from families and communities, promoting its transformation into reusable products such as fertilizers, recycled plastic, and ecological blocks. These blocks can be used, among other solutions, in the construction of improved chicken coops.

For Abel Francisco Carlos Matola, teacher and mentor of the winning team, the achievement represents the strength and courage of the students, who had to overcome fear and learn to trust in their abilities. “The biggest challenge was helping them believe they were capable. This prize showed our students and other young people at the school that it is possible to research, innovate, and create solutions with an impact on families and communities,” he stated.

The three highest-ranked teams and their respective schools received technology kits. The winning students will also benefit from scholarships to attend undergraduate programs at ISUTC, which may reach up to 90%, according to the terms stipulated in the competition regulations.

The ISUTC Olympics are part of the institution's commitment to valuing young talent, promoting innovation, and training students capable of contributing to the country's development.