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The festival, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM), brought together around 200 people, including students, teachers and representatives from partner schools, neighbouring government schools, and Osh State University. Among the esteemed guests included several government officials, such as the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Kyrgyz Republic, the Deputy Mayor of Osh’s office and Jogorku Kenesh (national parliament) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)’s Kyrgyz Republic office.  

“The children [who participated] in the festival are the ones who will go on to solve the most significant challenges of the Kyrgyz Republic and the world in the future,” said Deputy Mayor of Osh city Saltanat Amanova in her opening remarks. 

The debut of the solar panels, which have a total capacity of 56 kilowatts, was a highlight of the event. On sunny days, the solar panels meet up to 100 percent of the school’s electricity needs and between 42–50 percent on cloudy, winter days. Combined with the school’s existing clean energy-powered heating system, which also uses the solar panels to heat the school, the setup is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 139 tonnes annually. This is the equivalent of planting 9,600 trees or avoiding the combustion of 53 tonnes of coal every year. In addition to the environmental benefits, the transition from a fossil fuel-based heating system to one powered by clean energy cuts heating costs by 80 percent and electricity expenses by 60 percent.  

Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Nadira Jusupbekova, noted the importance of the solar energy system. 

“We are witnessing a real celebration of knowledge, creativity and innovation,” she said. “This [system] is not only an important step towards environmental sustainability, but also a living lesson in climate action for students. Schools such as [AKS, Osh] are becoming centres of transformation – both educationally and environmentally.” 

A clear reflection of the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability practices can be seen in the students, 20 of whom presented their projects at the event. The projects focused on real-world issues, such as food wastage and the importance of alternative energy sources to protect the Earth. These initiatives highlighted the school’s emphasis on nurturing students with problem-solving and creativity skills and providing them with future-focused learning.  

Two partner government schools from Almaty in the Republic of Kazakhstan were also invited to this year’s festival, reinforcing the significance of cross-border collaboration in education, particularly in enhancing students' knowledge through strategies that promote a holistic and comprehensive education for children.  

“This invitation has become a landmark,” said Elena Viktorovna, a teacher from school #69 in Almaty. “I saw a creative team of like-minded people. I learnt so much – from the administration, teachers and students – all of whom are so talented, creative [and] capable of turning ideas into real solutions.” 

The solar energy launch, framed by the vibrancy of the STEAM Festival, demonstrated AKS, Osh’s leadership in environmental innovation and its role in preparing students to shape a greener, more sustainable future.