Abu Dhabi: Many pupils in Abu Dhabi have prompted their parents to stop littering in the streets and dispose of waste properly, a senior official told Gulf News yesterday.
“We received this feedback from pupils after conducting awareness programmes in the schools, including a competition last year,” Eisa Saif Al Qubaisi, General Manager of Tadweer (Centre of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi), said.
He said this on the sidelines of a press conference to announce an eco-awareness award for school and university students in Abu Dhabi.
Al Qubaisi said although the awareness on proper waste disposal practices is good among Abu Dhabi residents, the centre was not satisfied. “There is always room for improvement and we think we can reach the society at large through the school and university students. If we have to change the society, we have to start with the youngsters. Moreover our experience shows that these youngsters change their elders too,” he explained.
The authorities are trying to cash in on this influence of youngsters on society to raise awareness by engaging them in an annual competition for the award that will give away total prize money of Dh76,000 to 12 winners in four categories.
Last year the award was only for pupils, but this year public and private university students in the emirate have also been included.
The award is established by Tadweer in association with Abu Dhabi Educational Council (Adec) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and will accept entries until November 30 by email at school@cwm.ae
Of the four categories, elementary school pupils [grades 1-5] can submit drawings on positive behaviour to ensure a clean environment and effective waste management, Nada Khamis, project manager of the award at Tadweer, said. Secondary school pupils [grades 6-9] have to submit models related to waste management, and high school pupils [grades 10-12] will turn photographers to capture waste management practices. University students have to create models made of waste materials, she said.
Pupils had unleashed their creativity in making drawing and models last year, Khamis said.
Addressing the press conference, Saif Rashid Al Mazroui, assistant undersecretary for institutional and supporting services at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the ministry will urge and guide university students to participate in the competitions.
Mohammad Salem Al Daheri, executive director of school operations at Adec, said the initiative will encourage students to find solutions to achieve environmental sustainability.
Engineer Hani Hosani, acting executive director of strategy and business, said the selection criteria of the award will be based on the latest technological developments in integrated waste management.
Tadweer will conduct a series of workshops to familiarise teachers with the award’s procedures. In the inaugural award last year, 172 pupils from 40 schools had participated. Winners will be honoured at a special ceremony on the sidelines of the EcoWaste summit that will take place on January 20, 2015 in Abu Dhabi.
