National

Highschoolers Awarded For Climate-Friendly Projects

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Royal Bank of Canada challenged high school teens through its Young Leaders Program to develop projects that could help shape a sustainable future for The Bahamas.

Published

8 months ago

May 29, 2025

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Royal Bank of Canada challenged high school teens through its Young Leaders Program to develop projects that could help shape a sustainable future for The Bahamas.

Young leaders were given time to put their plans together and present them to a panel of judges. RBC proudly highlighted students from Temple Christian School, C.I. Gibson Senior High School, St. John’s College, and C.V. Bethel High School.

The students shared their journey with us.

Ashleigh Knowles – Student, Temple Christian School
“Our project is a greenhouse with a drip irrigation system. We came up with this project because we have a garden at Temple Christian, but it’s kind of undeveloped, so we strive to develop that into a greenhouse.”

Justin Hall – Student, St. John’s College
“Our project is a water purification system. So basically, we’re just digging a water well and then it goes to a water purification system, and it will be usable for students and the community.”

Rasheed Smith – Student, C.I. Gibson School
“We decided to turn the lunch, food, the bones, all that, into compost and just use it to clean up the school and purify it, basically.”

Out of all the submissions, St. John’s College’s water purification system emerged victorious.

Students earned the top prize of $15,000 to bring the project to life.

Temple Christian came in second, winning $10,000, while C.I. Gibson placed third, securing $5,000.

Climate and environmental activist Amber Turner encouraged students to remain committed to the climate-friendly path.

Amber Turner – Climate and Environmental Activist
“A sustainable future is not some faraway fantasy. It’s a series of everyday choices, how we build, how we grow, how we live.”

RBC Managing Director and Vice President of Personal Banking for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, Erica Rolle, emphasized that the future belongs to those who dare to dream, innovate, and act.

Erica Rolle – Managing Director and VP of Personal Banking, RBC
“Investing in our youth isn’t just an act of hope. It’s a declaration that the future will be shaped by those willing to step up. I am inspired by the energy and the passion of the participating schools. Your projects are proof that our youth are not only dreaming of a better tomorrow, they are actively creating it.”