Former Lytton, GBHS student wins global award

Global Enterprise Experience Award winner Treigh Akuhata-Christy. Picture supplied

A former student of Lytton and Gisborne Boys' High schools has won a global award to continue his efforts to conserve energy in Nigeria.

Treigh Akuhata Christy was awarded the Global Enterprise Experience Award at a ceremony at Kahungunu Marae in Nuhaka.

Treigh attended Nuhaka School. He is the son of Karen Akuhata and Mark Christy. The award comes after Treigh and his global team — featuring members from New Zealand, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Thailand, Nepal and South Africa — designed a profitable social enterprise which fostered a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal using limited capital.

Global Enterprise Experience is a contest in leadership, cross cultural communication, social entrepreneurship and international business.

Treigh was one of the 1360 participants from 228 universities and organisations in 55 countries to compete in the Global Enterprise Experience (GEE) contest.

He said he could now change people's lives with a new-found cultural perspective he did not have when he was younger.

“I never looked outside New Zealand. This contest made me experience other cultures and perspectives.” Treigh said he found a simple method to manage the proposal.

“I identified everyone's strengths, understood their values and made sure no one was doing something they did not want to do.

“Our group was split into three — a business overview group, a financial group and a marketing group.”

Treigh was the team leader of the project proposal Biolight, a product which converts waste into clean energy.

Biolight is a portable biogas digester made from affordable materials which convert organic waste (animal dung, human excreta, kitchen waste) into combustible, methane-rich gas. The gas is then stored and used on demand in the target family's home.

Biolight is aimed at providing low-income households in Nigeria with a more affordable, sustainable, and renewable alternative to current cooking methods like firewood and coal which create household air pollution and lead to serious, ongoing health and environmental issues.

“Our team won $4000 and each of us received $500. Some of my team members are looking to invest our money in the project.”

Treigh is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a major in business and minor in te reo Maori, at Victoria University of Wellington.

“I have only one year left at university and after that I plan to help the local iwi and Maori businesses.” There was no better feeling than that of helping to change people's lives, he said.

“The Global Enterprise Experience was life-changing. I can't put it any other way — lifechanging for me, for my team and for the people we have the chance to help now and in the future.”

Treigh's parents were not surprised at what he had done.

His mother said they couldn't be any prouder of him and his achievements.

“The accolades he received are the result of his dedication to his team, his team's belief in the project and all the hard work he put in,” Ms Akuhata said.