I’m the academy coordinator for Plant-for–the-Planet, United Arab Emirates chapter, which is an international environmental organisation and the global coordinator for UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) Major Group for Children and Youth. I’ve been involved with UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign for several years and had conducted UAE’s first ever academy on September 22, 2012, which was a resounding success. Encouraged by the response and the demand it generated amongst students, I organised another academy in March this year in Dubai.
It was coincidentally a month in which millions across the globe observed Earth Hour. I chose this day for the academy to raise consciousness about conservation to a new level.
I had become a Climate Justice Ambassador during Rio+20 and in turn ordained 64 students as Climate Justice Ambassadors during the inaugural UAE academy. Some of these ambassadors, who are also members of my youth organisation, Green Hope UAE, were instrumental in conducting the latest academy in the UAE.
The turnout of this academy exceeded all expectations and was much higher than the inaugural academy. The sponsors supported Green Hope UAE in moving to a larger venue, the prestigious Taj Palace Hotel, to accommodate all the participants. After introductions and an ice breaker, the group embarked on the most important activity of the day – tree planting.
A new record was set — 100 saplings planted in one day. The happy and satisfied group of tree planters enthusiastically plunged in to a presentation which dealt with the founding history and philosophy of Plant-for-the-Planet. They learnt about climate change, greenhouse gases, carbon footprint and how a simple activity like planting a tree can positively impact the survival of our planet.
This was followed by the popular World Café sessions - a creative process for facilitating collaborative dialogue. The first session was an interactive quiz on the environment. This was followed by a unique Art from Waste session where groups were given various waste products, such as cans, compact discs, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and newspapers and they created models out of them with environmental messages.
The academy concluded with the certificate presentation ceremony and a group photograph. The duration of the academy was for seven hours but all the participants were unanimous in their opinion that it was the most engrossing and enjoyable workshop they had attended.
Green Hope UAE has now inducted over 150 climate justice ambassadors in the UAE though the two academies held till date and vows to carry on its mission of creating awareness about climate justice.
The reader is a student based in Dubai.
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