Dubai: Dubai Municipality on Thursday honoured the winners of the fifth Innovations from Waste contest, which was organised by the municipality’s Waste Management Department in cooperation with Dubai Educational Zone and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
The winners were announced at a special ceremony held at Children’s City in the Creek Park after a special jury shortlisted the finalists. The participants in the Innovations from Waste contest produced a variety of artworks from various wastes such as paper, plastic, wood, metal, electronic and construction waste and stones and tyres. The contest was aimed at creating awareness among school students as well as faculty members of the importance of reducing wastes and how to use them and find the most appropriate way for recycling, and how the educational institutions can support the efforts of Dubai Municipality in reducing waste.
The contest encouraged students to do creative works of art, which will be on display later in prominent places such as public parks in the emirate of Dubai or in the Children’s City or government institutions which will enhance and consolidate a culture of waste recycling among the visitors to these places.
Taleb Julfar, assistant director-general of Dubai Municipality for Environment and Public Health Services Sector, who opened the exhibition of 28 works presented by students, praised the role played by the educational institutions in supporting and achieving the municipality’s strategic direction to ensure a clean and sustainable environment. He also hailed their cooperation with the municipality in establishing a culture of waste recycling and awareness of the importance of minimising waste.
Julfar congratulated the winners and faculty members and expressed great admiration for the work and participation of a number of schools and students this year and also thanked the jury, which was formed from specialised technical evaluators of Dubai Education Zone.
More than 415 students from 45 educational institutions took part in the Innovations from Waste contest, and they produced 167 artworks, said Abdul Majeed Saifaie, director of Waste Management Department and head of the Awareness Team in the field of Sustainable Waste Management, adding that these figures are increasing annually.
“The main objective of organising this contest is to encourage students to make the most out of waste materials, unused items and neglected objects, whether at home or school to produce works of art that will ultimately serve the sustainable waste management and other environmental issues and thus promote environmental awareness in the community which will contribute in reducing waste,” said Saifaie.
“In addition to that, this will help them acquire the skills that will push them and encourage them for innovation and creativity and instill the spirit of competition and excellence in them. We, at Dubai Municipality, are always keen to inculcate environmental awareness among students through awareness programmes and competitions,” he said.
The winners were presented certificates of appreciation as well as cash awards. Among the public schools, Al Razi School received the first place while the second place went to Second of December School and the third place to Al Lisaili School. Among the teachers, Najat Al Marzouqi of Otba Bin Gharwan School was honoured.
Among the private institutions, the first place was bagged by Islamic School while the second place went to Queen International School, and the third place to Modern Skills School while among the teachers of this category, the award went to Suhaila Meer of Priston School. Among the higher education institutions, Manipal University was honoured.
