FOUR 16-year-old girls from Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Gopeng in Perak proved their mettle after they were crowned champions at Asia’s largest interschool Lego building competition.
The team, comprising Aaqilah Damia Saifuddin, Syahirah Abdul Rahman, Nur Damia’ Batrisyia Shahril Rizam and Anis Al-Bakri Mustafa, won with their Santorini-inspired design in the secondary category of the Legoland Malaysia School Challenge Grand Finale 2025.
Their build, named Lucira, depicted the iconic whitewashed buildings, blue-domed roofs, and cliffside pools of the popular Greek island, capturing the island’s charm and architectural beauty in intricate Lego form.
Aaqilah Damia said they highlighted the iconic features of the island in their build to resemble the hotels in Santorini, drawing inspiration from its myths and culture.
“We listed several ideas, including Venice in Italy and other landmarks, but in the end, we decided on Santorini because we love its architecture and thought it would be a fun build,” she said.
Each team member had a specific role; Aaqilah Damia researched Santorini’s culture and history while Syahirah focused on the architectural design, aligning with her dream of becoming an architect.
Meanwhile, Nur Damia’ handled the accessories and lighting while Anis managed the project’s budget.
Aaqilah Damia said balancing school commitments with the project was a challenge for them as boarding school students.
“Time management was among the hardest parts.
“We had to balance classes and homework while working on the project late at night.
“Despite our occasional disagreements, it brought us closer and we learned to understand each other’s strengths better,” she said, adding that their communication and leadership skills improved along the way.
Anis said financing the build was another obstacle they faced.
“We did not really have the money to buy extra bricks, so our parents helped us.
“We set a budget of about RM200 from each of our parents to cover the costs,” she said.
Overcoming the challenges to clinch the top spot was worth it as Nur Damia’ recalled that their team only managed to reach the top five last year.
“It was totally unexpected because this was only our second attempt. I cried on stage when they announced our team as the champion,” she said.
The girls spent two months on the project, during which they sketched, experimented with leftover bricks from the previous year and purchased additional pieces as needed.
In the primary category, SK Port Dickson from Negri Sembilan emerged as the champion, while Singapore’s Queenstown Primary School clinched top spot in the inaugural junior category.
The Malaysian champions in the primary and secondary categories earned a trip to South Korea, while the junior category winners were awarded a trip to Legoland Malaysia Resort in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
Legoland Malaysia Resort vice- president CS Lim said the competition, in its fourth year, had grown into a regional platform that not only celebrated creativity but also promoted cultural exchange among young builders.
“This year, we featured 15 finalist teams across three categories – junior (aged seven to nine), primary (aged 10 to 12) and secondary (aged 13 to 17), with participants from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and China.
This year’s edition saw over 630 entries from Asian schools.
Themed “Build Your Dream Destination”, the competition showcased how Lego inspired imagination, teamwork and innovation, said Lim.
Education Ministry deputy director-general (school operations) Zainal Abas, who attended the prize-giving ceremony, said the ministry worked with Legoland to provide funding for schools that needed support to take part in the challenge.
“Schools can apply for funds through their respective state Education Departments if their budget is insufficient,” he said, adding that the ministry viewed the competition as a platform to build creativity and confidence among students.
Zainal hoped that next year’s edition would be bigger, with greater participation from neighbouring countries, especially as it coincides with Visit Malaysia 2026 and Visit Johor 2026.
“This event is also in line with Malaysia’s role as Asean chair, and the ministry is ready to help connect Legoland with our counterparts in the region so that more students can take part in this meaningful competition,” he said.
