Kyte hosts Primary School Sustainability Awards

In classrooms across Cavan and beyond, something inspiring has been unfolding. Over the past few months, over 200 primary school students have stepped up to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, armed with curiosity, creativity, and the unwavering belief that even small actions can make a big difference.

This collective energy was sparked by Kyte Powertech’s inaugural Primary School Sustainability Programme, which saw pupils from Farnham NS; St Patrick’s NS, Castletara; St Clare’s NS; Butlersbridge NS and Dromore Central Primary School (Co Down) tackle real-world sustainability challenges with fresh eyes and determined hearts.

What began with a simple visit evolved into a celebration of young innovation, culminating in a heartwarming final event on Thursday, June 5. There, the winning team from each school presented their ideas to judges, teachers, and peers in a room buzzing with pride, excitement, and purpose. But the story started long before the spotlight.

From Transformers to Fast Fashion

When Kyte Powertech’s team first visited the participating schools earlier this year, they came with a mission: To ignite students’ curiosity about sustainability and to demonstrate how local businesses, like Kyte Powertech, contribute to global solutions. Each school visit began with a lively Q&A session, where children quizzed engineers and sustainability professionals on topics ranging from how transformers work to the company’s efforts to help the environment.

The students’ enthusiasm was palpable, and it only grew stronger as the Kyte Powertech team introduced the core of the programme: A hands-on group challenge centred around five key sustainability themes - biodiversity, recycling, energy, climate change, and fast fashion. Each class received a project booklet full of tips on how to structure their ideas, conduct research, form teams, and deliver compelling presentations.

And with that, the challenge was set.

Over the following six weeks, classrooms transformed into mini-innovation hubs. Students brainstormed project titles and designed logos, built prototypes, researched facts, and planned calls to action. Whether sketching out community rainwater systems or modelling sustainable schools in Minecraft, the pupils dove headfirst into the challenge.

A Tour of Brilliant Ideas

When the Kyte Powertech team returned to each school to see the final projects, they were met with presentations that far exceeded expectations.

One group explored the urgent issue of fast fashion, combining research with a confident presentation style and a student-led survey to raise awareness. Another team impressed with a fully interactive project that used Minecraft to demonstrate how their school could improve its energy rating from E to A. This creative and technically impressive solution showcased both vision and practical know-how.

On the topic of recycling, students demonstrated real leadership, moving beyond posters and slogans to tackle contamination and behavioural change. The projects were not only insightful but also action-driven, with some teams tracking the effectiveness of new systems they put in place in their classrooms.

Then some tackled water conservation. Rainwater harvesting systems, presented with clarity and imagination, showed a deep understanding of how small changes can have global impacts. These projects stood out for their practicality and careful planning.

A Day to Remember

Once all schools had submitted their projects, the Kyte Powertech judges had the difficult task of selecting one finalist and one runner-up from each school. All finalists were then invited to attend a very special day hosted by Kyte Powertech.

On June 5, students and teachers arrived at Kyte Powertech’s Cavan headquarters for a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. From initial sketches to finished product, the children were fascinated by the journey of a transformer, a powerful visual of how innovation shapes the real world. They were wide-eyed as they watched robot welders in action, laser cutting machines at work, and discovered the hidden rhythm of life behind the factory walls.

The scale of the operation, the buzz of over 500 employees, and the rich multicultural makeup of the team left a lasting impression. In a symbolic moment that marked their commitment to sustainability, the students joined together to plant a tree on the grounds, an act of hope and action rooted in everything they had learned. After the tour, the celebration moved to the Kilmore Hotel, where students had the opportunity to present their projects to a larger audience of their peers and a panel of judges. Despite the crowd, every child shone. Their confidence, preparation, and enthusiasm made for an inspiring and proud afternoon.

Choosing a winner wasn’t easy. Each team brought something unique, and every idea held promise.

Runners-Up: Solar Innovation at St Patrick’s NS, Castletara

After much deliberation, the judges awarded the runner-up prize to the team from St Patrick’s NS Castletara for their incredible Solar Oven project. This imaginative group created a working solar oven using household items like cardboard, foil, glass, and wood—and yes, it really worked. The oven successfully cooked eggs, melted chocolate, and even cooked pizza and rashers.

What made this project so special was the balance of science and sustainability. The students explained how solar energy can be harnessed and converted into heat, and they supported their claims with controlled experiments and thermometer readings. They even involved younger students by using their oven to make Rice Krispie treats, a brilliant example of cross-age learning.

A standout moment? The mention of a student’s grandfather, who supported the team throughout the project, brought a beautiful intergenerational aspect to the learning process. The final prototype was not only functional but also carefully built and developed through collaboration—a genuine team effort.

Winners: St Clare’s NS Take the Lead on Biodiversity

This year’s overall winners were pupils from St Clare’s NS who captured the judges’ hearts with a rich and well-thought-out project focused on biodiversity. Working collaboratively across groups, the students identified a challenge in their school —the lack of natural habitats for pollinators —and responded with a plan that was as creative as it was realistic.

Their proposal included transforming a section of the school grounds into a wildflower garden, complete with a handmade bug hotel to support bees, butterflies, and other small creatures. In addition to this, they had also secured areas on the school grounds for raised planters, in which to grow and cultivate flowers. Their presentation included engaging posters, a fundraising bake sale, and even AI-generated visuals to show what their project could look like once completed.

What really stood out was the team’s planning process. From securing approval from the principal to working with the school caretaker and the local Men’s Shed, they demonstrated real-world problem solving, initiative, and community engagement. They also found a way to tie in composting efforts from another group, an excellent example of how sustainability projects can build on one another.

Their reward: a €1,000 grant to fund sustainability initiatives in their school. The runners-up received €500, and all participating schools received €250 to continue the excellent work they had started.

Planting Seeds for the Future

Reflecting on the programme, the Kyte Powertech team was unanimous in their praise.

“The confidence these children showed in presenting, the depth of their research, and their passion for protecting the planet, it’s nothing short of incredible,” Chaitra Satish shared. “We didn’t just see ideas. We saw future environmental leaders in action.”

Sustainability is not a buzzword for Kyte Powertech; it’s a core company value. From investing in energy-efficient operations to engaging in community partnerships, the company recognises that real change starts with people, and often with the youngest voices in the room.

“We’re proud to support sustainability at a grassroots level,” said Stephanie Leonard.

“This programme shows how bright the future can be when children are given the tools to imagine and lead.”

Plans are already underway to expand the programme in the coming years, to reach more primary schools across County Cavan. If the first year is any indication, the next wave of student projects promises to be just as inspiring.

In a world facing urgent environmental challenges, the children of Cavan and Down have reminded us all of something simple but powerful: Change doesn’t always start in boardrooms or laboratories; it begins in classrooms, with curious minds, open hearts, and cardboard solar ovens that really do cook pizza.

About Kyte Powertech

First established in Cavan, Ireland, in 1977, Kyte Powertech has grown through major expansions, demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong customer focus to become a market leader in the manufacture of bespoke, quality solutions for the electrical industry.

We supply a large and diverse range of distribution transformer products and services from our 17,500-square-meter manufacturing facility, where we have the capability of manufacturing 6,500 MVA annually. This equates to just over 16,000 transformers. Currently, we employ over 500 dedicated professionals committed to delivering excellence and are the largest private employer in Co Cavan.