At just 15 and 16 years old, a group of students from Bilingual French International School in Dubai is showing the UAE what sustainable innovation truly looks like. What began as a school business project quickly blossomed into a purpose-led product and a powerful example of youth-led impact.
As part of the Venture Teens entrepreneurial competition, Grade 10 students Khalil Aljundi, Alek Wardini, Kian Katrib, Rafael El Zyr, and Maxime-Antoine Nassim created Grow-Notes: a biodegradable journal and pencil set embedded with seeds that grow into plants once discarded. It’s a humble idea with a big mission – to prove that even everyday items can be reimagined to leave a greener legacy.
The students didn’t just come up with a clever concept but also built it from the ground up. With guidance from their teachers, they pitched for funding from the school, managed the full production process, and went on to sell Grow-Notes at the live competition event at Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi, ultimately earning second place in the finals.
But the real win was what happened next.
In a powerful display of circular impact, the school itself placed a custom order of Grow-Notes, branded for the Bilingual French International School community. It was a proud full-circle moment where a sustainable product was imagined and delivered by the very young minds the school nurtures.
For the students, the experience wasn’t just about sales or rankings. It was about responsibility, resourcefulness, and rethinking what business can be. “We didn’t want to just create a product, we wanted to solve something,” the team shared. “Grow-Notes reflects the future we want to see.”
The initiative aligns perfectly with the school’s ethos of nurturing a growth mindset, empowering students to think globally and act meaningfully. Through Grow-Notes, these young changemakers have demonstrated how innovation, purpose, and environmental care can be seamlessly woven together.
Inspiring, impactful, and entirely youth-led, the Grow-Notes story is a shining example of how local heroes are already shaping the future, one seed at a time.
About Bilingual French International School – Dubai
Bilingual French International School (BFIS) is a leading French-English bilingual school in Dubai, accredited by the French Ministry of Education and part of the AFLEC network. Serving students from early years to high school, BFIS offers a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that blends academic excellence with global citizenship. With a strong focus on innovation, multilingual fluency, and intercultural understanding, the school prepares students to thrive in a fast-changing, interconnected world — confident in their identity and open to others.
