“We all need to work actively and reduce the need of landfills but sadly, currently this is happening at a very slow pace.”
These are the words of Engineer Abdul Majeed Saifaie, Director of Waste Management Department (WMD) of Dubai Municipality, which were taken much seriously by the entire team of SynergY. The group is brought together by a hundred youth and children in the UAE who passionately work together for a rewarding experience during the ‘Plant for the Planet Campaign’, guided by Dubai Municipality.
The students truly lived out the connection made with flora by planting 170 trees at landfill sites in Jebel Ali while learning and gaining valuable insight about medical waste and its incineration.
The Plant for the Planet Campaign initiative started a month ago on Earth Day, 2013 by Dubai Municipality, SynergY, Super Galvanising and Green Creations and the closing ceremony took place closer to World Environment Day. Invited on the stage at the closing ceremony of the campaign, I was privileged to share the experience with the audience.
In appreciation and recognition of the efforts of SynergY, we received our second award from Eng. Salah Amiri, Assistant Director General for Environment and Public Health Services Sector and Eng. Abdul Majeed Al Saifaie, Director of the Waste Management Department Dubai Municipality at the award ceremony held at Dubai Municipality Club Dubai.
Connecting with the theme of ‘Think, Eat, Save’, the members of SynergY travelled to Abu Dhabi and made a presentation for project officials at the construction site of Al Futtaim Carillion at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi on “10 Ways of reducing food waste” and likewise reducing the need for landfills and saving the environment.
The presentation was well-attended by many employees and communication was made effective by hand-outs and posters. The team also distributed small food packages and juices for construction site workers. The members then continued to participate in the sustainability week celebration by donating over a 100 books and finding new homes for 50 indoor plants at Al Salam Private School in Dubai.
The group actively participated on Environment Day at the workshop and conducted student interactive sessions at Dubai Mall Star Atrium alongside Ministry of Environment and Water. Thereafter, the members enjoyed the evening at a special screening of the environment movie titled “Earth” by Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) at Mall of the Emirates.
Thus, the World Environment Day became very special for SynergY and its members.
This reader is the founder of SynergY.
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