Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010
Gulf News
6,000 pupils to use extracurricular skills as medium
Dubai Nearly 6,000 pupils from 20 schools across Dubai and the northern emirates will help highlight the need to reduce the environmental impact of development programmes through extracurricular activities as part of a partnership launched yesterday in coordination with the Ministry of Education, Emirates Wildlife Society—WWF, and HSBC.
Schools that already have an environment group or committee in the student body will be able to merge their activities with the HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative, said Shaikha Rashed Al Husan Al Shamsi, acting chief executive for educational affairs at the Ministry of Education.
Fifteen government schools and five private schools will be taking part in the project with more expected to join in due course.
The project has been running for two years in 18 countries and aims to develop a global network of schools focused on understanding climate change and putting together energy efficiency initiatives in local communities.
“The programme will be ongoing as long as we have the support we need, and until we have reached our goal of reducing our carbon footprint. Once this is achieved, we might introduce new programmes,” Al Shamsi said.
With the support of the Ministry of Education, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and HSBC, the Emirates Wildlife Society—WWF will drive the Eco-Schools Climate Initiative as part of its campaign to integrate tackling environmental issues and the UAE education agenda.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF, said the HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative is a “highly-credible” global programme, reaching out to millions of children around the world.
Volunteers from HSBC and EWS-WWF will conduct training for teachers from chosen schools to disseminate how a seven-step methodology can help each institution reduce its footprint by cutting consumption of water and electricity and managing waste more efficiently.
workshops
organiser’s forte
The Emirates Environment Group, a Dubai grass roots environment organisation, has conducted student environmental workshops since 2001 offering students a chance to broaden their knowledge base and sharpen environmental skills. The Students’ Workshop 2010 started yesterday at Rashid School for Boys and provides students with first-hand information on the initiatives that can help achieve a low-carbon world.
— E.L.
By Emmanuelle Landais?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
