TSL 2024 International Student Essay Competition Winners!
The theme of the 2024 International Student Essay Competition was NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
We received a record number of entries in the 2024 competition, with 1594 essays from 340 schools in 64 countries, on theme of “How can nature help us achieve the UN SDGs in my community?”
Students aged 7-11 (Primary) and 12-18 (Secondary) were asked to share their own views on how they feel that nature could support the achievement of the SDGs in their own communities. Students were invited to approach the topic however they wished, either focusing on one SDG, or multiple SDGs that they felt are a key issue within their communities, and explore how nature could help to improve the situation.
Our panel of International Judges were extremely impressed by the variety of Nature-based solutions (NBS) explored by the students in their essays and the understanding of the applications and benefits of NBS.
Congratulations to all our winners and top finalists detailed below!

Primary Essay Competition Results
Yeira William Xavier age 9 from Sharada Mandir School, India, is the recipient of this year’s first place primary award. Yeira’s essay highlighted ‘Mother Natures’ inherent ability to achieve the SDG’s and that by looking back to nature we will find the solutions needed.
The top prize winners are listed in the table below. See our full list of awards here.
Final Position | Entrant | School/College | Country |
1st | Yeira William Xavier | Sharada Mandir School | India |
2nd | Ameen Shakur | King’s College School | UK |
Joint 3rd | Dao Binh Minh | Vinschool Smart City Secondary and High School | Vietnam |
Joint 3rd | David Oluwafoyinsayemi Anigbajumo | Gladview Model Academy | Nigeria |
4th | Alina Ryburn | Hartland International School | UAE |
5th | Sarah Manglani | The British School New Delhi | India |
6th | Hamsini Senthil | Department of Education Services | Seychelles |
7th | Sharon Wanjiru Kahiu | Children’s Environmental Rescue | Kenya |
8th | Erzat Zhalel Musenuly | Iqanat High School of Burabay | Kazakhstan |
9th | Jule Mohamed Nafiu | Baa Atoll School | Maldives |
10th | Nash’aa Mohamed Naseem | Baa Atoll School | Maldives |

Secondary Essay Competition Results
The 1st Prize secondary and overall Grand Prize winner was Naomi Iris Dolatre from Saint Michael’s College of Laguna in the Philippines. The judges were impressed by Naomi’s essay, which highlighted that nature is not merely a background to our lives and communities, but an active participant in our journey towards the UN SDG’s.
Here are the top prize winners for this category.
Final Position | Entrant | School/College | Country |
1st & Grand Prize Winner | Naomi Iris Dolatre | Saint Michael’s College of Laguna | Philippines |
2nd | Hiyaa Rathod | India | |
3rd | Bryan Bereczki | Tiszacsegei Fekete István Általános Iskola | Hungary |
4th | Daniel Mugabo | Three Rivers Academy | Kenya |
Joint 5th | Bao Chau Ngoc Pham | The Olympia Schools | Vietnam |
Joint 5th | Theodore Miers | Winchester College | UK |
6th | Kamsiyochukwu Sonia Okafor | Roseville Secondary School | Nigeria |
Joint 7th | Hiranga Bandara Suraweera | Trinity College | Sri Lanka |
Joint 7th | Serene Zhang | Raffles Institution | Singapore |
Joint 7th | Khushi Goyal | Bhartiyam International School | India |
8th | Kate Nielson Bona | St. Scholastica’s College – Manila | Philippines |
9th | Lia Gabrielle Rosca | Multiple Intelligence International School | Philippines |
Joint 10th | Otto Plant | Sutton Valance School | UK |
Joint 10th | Swasti Agarwal | The Millennium School, Greater Noida (West) | India |