Volunteers join schoolchildren in UAE's biggest clean-up operation

Dubai: Schoolchildren from primary to high school with plastic gloves and sporting white caps an aprons with "Clean up campaign" printed in bold joined 22,000 volunteers in the biggest clean-up campaign, launched on Tuesday at Mamzar Park.

The campaign, which is observed this year under the banner "Communities uniting to clean-up and conserve the environment", is held from 27 to October 30 at various sites across the emirate.

The main areas where the clean-up activities will beheld, are: Nad Al Sheba, the desert area in Wadi Al Amradi, bachelor accommodation areas in Al Quoz, Nad Al Hammar, Al Khawaneej, Al Aweer area behind Defence Camp, Al Qusais workers' accommodation and Ras Al Khor Natural Sanctuary. Other areas include Jaddaf Fishermen's Village, Jumeirah-1 Fishermen's Village, Heritage Village area, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim open beaches, Hatta tourist areas, industrial areas, Jebel Ali Port Free Zone area, Diving Beach and Creek, and workers' accommodations.

The campaign was officially launched by Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, and Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality.

Presentation

The pupils performed an stage presentation with an environmental theme, followed by the signing of an agreement on collecting religious publications and newspapers from mosques, the launch of a campaign on avoiding throwing cigarette butts in public places, recreation programmes for students through workshops, a painting competition, clean-up activities at the Fishermen's Village and honouring and distribution of certificates and souvenirs to the participants.

Hassan Mohammad Makki, Director of Waste Management, said the campaign, in its 16th year, is the largest volunteer clean-up drive in the country in terms of participation and waste collection.

Wednesday's activities, to be held at Al Mamzar area, will include volunteers from government educational institutions. The programme will include distribution of litter bins at schools, an abandoned vehicles removal campaign in coordination with the operations unit, and honouring participants and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.

On Thursday, volunteers from private schools, colleges, and universities will participate in the clean-up programme at Al Sufooh. Also on this day, a competition will be held on can collection for private schools, in addition to undertaking pest control activities, workshops on pest at all waste bins in coordination with the operations unit and honouring participants and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.

Friday, the last day of the campaign, will see thousands of volunteers from the general public including private company staff, NGOs, community groups and private entities joining hands in cleaning up the Nad Al Sheba Area.

Awareness programme

A clean-up programme will also be organised by the Filipino community and employees of Dnata at Mamzar Beach.

The awareness programmes, organised on the sidelines of the campaign at one of the shopping malls, include workshops for the general public on recycling and reducing waste, environmental painting, Municipality Souq for plastic bags, environmental workshops on making usable materials from waste, distribution of saplings to the public to encourage horticulture and its role in curbing climate change, and distribution of awareness publications.

Will you be participating in this year's clean up campaign? What is the biggest clean up you have been involved in?