The AIA Group announced UPTD SD Negeri Papela from Indonesia as the regional winner of the “AIA Healthiest Schools Competition” for 2024/2025 held in Da Nang, Vietnam, the company announced in a media release on 4 July.
UPTD SD Negeri Papela is a primary school located in Rote Ndao, a remote island in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province. Facing a serious waste problem and low literacy levels, the students and teachers launched a project called “Ecolitera: The Trash Tells a Story.”
They collected discarded plastic bottles, tyres, and household waste to create classroom furniture, literacy boards, school gardens, and fertiliser to support local farmers. The literacy boards contributed to a 70% improvement in reading and writing scores, while also fostering environmental awareness.
Thailand’s Tessaban 1 Kittikachorn School received the “Health and Sustainability Award” for its initiative creating biodegradable products from leaves. SMP Negeri 43 from Bandung, Indonesia was also awarded in the “Mental Wellbeing” category for developing a mobile application that allows students to report bullying anonymously and access emotional support resources.
Other winners included Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Hindu College for its bicycle rental system (Active Lifestyles Award), and the Philippines’ Happy Hollow National High School for its organic farming, nutrition education, and vocational training for students (Healthy Eating Award).
The total prize pool for the competition is US$100,000, which will support the schools’ ongoing initiatives.
Stuart Spencer, AIA Chief Marketing Officer, lauded the winners and said, “The success and growth of this programme is a tribute to the extraordinary commitment of schools, teachers, parents, and Ministries of Education across the region.”
The AIA Healthiest Schools programme, introduced in 2022, is part of the AIA Group’s One Billion Initiative, which aims to encourage healthier lifestyles among communities by 2030.
The programme has since expanded to eight Asia Pacific markets, promoting healthy eating, active living, mental well-being, and sustainability in schools. According to AIA, the 2024/2025 competition attracted a record number of entries.
For 2025/2026, the AIA Group said the programme will include Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
