Schoolkids targeted in Dubai environmental awareness campaign

Dubai Environmental Culture will run workshops in several schools across the emirate.

DUBAI // Schoolchildren are being encouraged to take care of the environment, with the launch of an awareness campaign by Dubai Municipality on Wednesday.

Hussein Lootah, director general, said Dubai Environmental Culture – part of the “My City. My Environment” initiative – will teach children how to take care of their environment.

“The reason we focus on children is because they are the future generation and they will be the ones to continue a trend of sustainability,” Mr Lootah said.

“We want to teach them that trash is harmful for the environment but that it can be reduced and recycled. The initiative covers all aspects of life, at home, school, business, parks, shopping centres and beaches; as well as establishing knowledge, positive interaction and constant motivation in line with the Dubai 2021 plan to make Dubai a smart and sustainable city.”

Dr Emad Saad, media coordinator and designer of the school workshops’ curriculum, said they would run at several schools and would follow “the method of edutainment”.

“It is not going to be lectures, but activities and hands-on experiences that will grab the children’s attention and stimulate their minds.”

Sari Al Saadi, campaign director, said it was important for children to understand the value of each contribution.

“The campaign team aims to create a symbol for green actions, that acts as a symbol as well as a measurable impact,” he said. “For example, recycling cubes – one for aluminium, one for paper and one for plastic – will be placed in schools, and children will be taught the value of their contributions in terms of money and/or objects, such as a bicycle.

“At the end of the school year, the cubes will be collected and points will be awarded to children, who can then use them to buy a humanitarian or environmental reward online.”

A Mega Cube will also be displayed in public parks and shopping malls to help focus attention on the campaign.

“This is in the hope that it will effectively raise awareness of the amount of waste that is ‘wasted’ if no segregation happens,” Mr Al Saadi said.