Water, Air and Food Awards
The Water, Air, and Food Awards 2015 were held at the majestic Sunway Resort and Spa Hotel in Malaysia. As the gateway to the region and a biodiversity hub with some of the world’s oldest rainforests, Malaysia was specially placed to host the 2015 WAF Awards.
More than 500 people from non-governmental organizations, charities, environment groups, government departments, academics, students, and volunteers attended the events of the day.
The WAF Impact Forum saw over one hundred participants – guided by experienced facilitators Marc Levitte from France and Toke Moeller of Denmark – engage with this year’s finalists: Turenscape from China, ENPHO from Nepal and SOIL from Haiti as they presented their projects. Eminent personalities from the Institute of Strategic and International Studies: a public policy think-tank in Malaysia, the University of Nottingham Malaysia, CEOs, and scientists were on the panel to advise and direct the passionate finalists in achieving their goals and explore how their innovations could be scaled and replicated in other countries.
After contemplating and working together for close to 6 hours, ideas and goals were harvested and presented to the audience.
This year’s events saw the Inaugural WAF Youth Awards being presented. WAF Youth aims at engaging young people to think and act in responsible ways to ensure water and food security for the future. Five finalists from the many schools who participated from around the world were shortlisted.
The 2015 WAF Awards ceremony started with a bang as traditional drums accompanied the guests of honor into the hall: the First Lady of Timor-Leste – H.E. Mdm Isabel da Costa Ferreira, Princess Zama Zulu of South Africa, Princess YAM Tengku Puteri Nor Zehan of Perlis, Mr. Prem Rawat: Patron of WAF, ambassadors, and other dignitaries.
Singers, celebrities, traditional dances, and music were part of the celebrations commemorating the work of the finalists.
And this year, due to the exceptional projects submitted, the selection committee decided to award all three finalists from China, Haiti, and Nepal as winners of the 2015 WAF Awards. The Inaugural WAF Youth Award was presented to the Wyebank Secondary School from South Africa.
Patron of WAF, Mr. Prem Rawat, announced a new category to be launched in 2016, the WAF Air Awards in response to worsening air pollution around the region and world.
The night ended with a rapturous song by Malaysian Eco-Celebrity and star, Mr. Zainal Abidin.
I think it was very admirable that you did such a beautiful event…
Your whole intention is to bring a solution to water and food security and you managed to identify very good solutions from around the world.
The amount of effort you put into this is just remarkable. I wish you the best in meeting good friends and supporters throughout the world.
It is so important for all of us to learn from The Award Winners and also WAFA’s Patron Prem Rawat was such an inspiration to everyone. I am sure he loves this world and wants to do a lot of good for many many people.
Congratulations to all of you wonderful people!
Puan Sri Dr. Susan Cheah
EXCO Sunway Group
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
It’s my pleasure to attend WAF Awards, and thank you for providing our students this fantastic opportunity. Our students were very happy.
Sincerely A. R. Neethiahnanthan
Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality
Taylor’s University
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia