June 9, 2026, Chișinău – A record number of student teams from across the country have demonstrated that solutions for a more energy-efficient future begin at school and can generate real change within communities.

More than 800 students forming 73 teams from 20 districts of the Republic of Moldova and the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti actively participated in educational activities dedicated to energy efficiency as part of the national competition „Energy Efficiency Week in My School”.

The most innovative and relevant initiatives were awarded during a festive event organized at the launch of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) – Europe’s leading initiative dedicated to promoting clean energy and the efficient use of resources.

“The record level of student participation in this competition demonstrates that education is playing an increasingly important role in our country’s green transition. The vision, energy, and creativity of young people represent a valuable resource for the sustainable future of the Republic of Moldova. CNED will continue investing in energy efficiency education together with its development partners”, said Ion Muntean, Director of the National Center for Sustainable Energy.

In Category I, dedicated to children aged 6 to 10 years, the winners are:

- Public Institution „Viorel Cantemir” Gymnasium, Sofia village, Drochia district

- Public Institution Biești Gymnasium, Orhei district

- Public Institution Cuhureștii de Sus Gymnasium, Florești district

In Category II, dedicated to students aged 11 to 16 years, the winners are:

- Public Institution „Ion Creangă” Theoretical High School, Chișinău

- Public Institution „Alecu Russo” Theoretical High School, Chișinău

- Public Institution „Iulia Hașdeu” Theoretical High School, Chișinău

The winning teams received diplomas and prizes in recognition of their creativity, commitment, and contribution to promoting responsible energy behavior.

“Investments in energy efficiency begin with investments in education. Through this competition, students have demonstrated that they understand the importance of responsible energy consumption and that they can become drivers of change within their own communities. The energy future of the Republic of Moldova depends not only on the technologies we implement today, but also on the values we pass on to younger generations,” said Andrei Grițco, State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy.

The competition was organized between February 24 and May 15, 2026, by the National Center for Sustainable Energy in partnership with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of the project “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Moldova (E4M)”, implemented by GIZ Moldova.

Throughout the competition, students from both age categories (6–10 years and 11–16 years) carried out hundreds of activities dedicated to responsible energy consumption and renewable energy use: thematic lessons, practical experiments, awareness campaigns, educational videos, interactive games, exhibitions, and initiatives implemented within schools and local communities.Through these activities, the competition has gone beyond the dimensions of a school contest, becoming a national platform through which students have demonstrated that they can become active promoters of the energy transition and sustainable change.

“Every child carries potential. Curiosity, imagination and a sincere desire to do good are already there. What matters is that we give children the space to believe in their ideas, to take part, to create and to see that their actions can have a real impact through projects that bring new ideas for a more sustainable future. Through this competition, students have shown us that energy is not only a resource we use, but also a responsibility we learn to carry forward - in our schools, our families and our communities. By investing in the education of children today, we are, in fact, investing in more aware communities and in a more sustainable future for the Republic of Moldova,” said Torsten Greis, Project Manager of E4M, GIZ Moldova.

The National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED) is the public institution responsible for coordinating and organizing activities aimed at ensuring the implementation of state policy in its assigned areas of activity, including through attracting and managing financial resources for financing and promoting projects and programs in these sectors in an environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient manner, contributing to strengthening the country’s energy security.