11 UAE schools were granted the prestigious award for their environmental achievements
Six new institutions joined the list of award winners
Dubai 10 June, 2015: Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF), the UAE Ministry of Education and HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd. have announced the awarding of the prestigious ‘Green Flag’ to 11 local schools as part of the Eco-Schools UAE programme.
In a celebratory ceremony in Dubai, the Green Flag event recognized the winning schools’ accomplishments in the implementation of the ‘Eco-Schools 7-Steps programme’. As part of the programme, schools put in significant efforts to reduce their energy and water consumption, lower their waste production, better understand the importance of biodiversity conservation, and demonstrated improved pro-environmental behaviour. The ceremony recognized the hard work and leadership in the schools’ journey towards a sustainable future.
Congratulating and thanking Emirates Wildlife Society for their efforts in promoting environmental protection in the UAE, Her Excellency Amal Alkoos, Assistant Undersecretary for Activities Department in the ministry of Education said: “Protecting the country’s resources and natural environment is a fundamental value that the Ministry of Education works towards instilling in students, and promoting across the school community. This can be done through events, activities and competitions; whether organized by us or by specialized expert organizations such as Emirates Wildlife Society”. Her Excellency also recognized the level of competition, and what the schools have achieved during the Eco-Schools programme, showing that everyone is a winner, even those who didn’t make it to the podium.
A worldwide initiative designed to educate and engage students, teachers and parents alike in sustainable lifestyles within the school community and beyond, Eco-Schools is a global programme pioneered by the Foundation of Environmental Education (FFE) and is spread through 61 countries to date.
In the UAE, Eco-Schools is operated by Emirates Wildlife Society - WWF (EWS-WWF), supported by the Ministry of Education, and sponsored by long-time partner HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd. Currently there are 45 participating schools in the country.
Commenting on the results that the schools achieved, Ida Tillisch, Director General, EWS -WWF, said: “Environmental education is an important pillar for securing a sustainable future. Today’s children will be tomorrow’s decision-makers. What Eco-schools shows us is that they can also be today’s leaders. Under the students’ leadership, schools implemented simple innovative ways to reduce their consumption, and succeeded to reduce water consumption by an average of 41.6%, and energy consumption by an average of 17%. We are grateful to school’s principals, teachers, parents, as well as to our partners, sponsors and volunteers who have contributed to these results. We are also grateful to the students who have demonstrated inspiring leadership and enthusiasm and contributed to the conservation of our precious natural resources.”
The schools achieved these impressive results through simple, yet effective techniques such as using AC discreetly in the classrooms, recycling grey water to the maximum extent possible, turning the lights off when not needed, strict control on use of paper in schools, and dedicating maximum organic waste to composting for the schools’ gardens.
Some of the innovative measures taken by the schools involved collecting water left in drinking bottles and ablution facilities to be used in irrigating the schools’ green areas, students and their families adopting designated areas within the school backyard to grow native plants, and leftover food being collected by students and used to feed animals, both at home and school.
Ammar Shams, Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd. said:
“As a business, we are committed to supporting causes that can drive environmental conservation in the communities that we operate in. The Eco-Schools programme has delivered fantastic results for the community, and we are certain that its impacts will continue to encourage positive actions on the environment from students, teachers, their families, and the extended community in the UAE and beyond.”
Five of the eleven schools were awarded for the second time, and six new schools entered the prestigious list, bringing the total up to 18 Green Flag schools in the UAE. The winners of this year’s Green Flag awards are:
New Awarded Schools
• Al Qeyam Model Basic Cycle School for Boys, Dubai
• Emirates International School, Meadows, Dubai
• GEMS World Academy, Dubai
• Kindergarten Starters, Dubai
• Ras Al Khaimah Academy, RAK
• Umm Al Moomeen SecondarSchool for Girls, Fujairah Schools renewing their flags
• Athen Basic Cycle School for Girls, RAK
• Al Shola Private School, Girls, Sharjah
• Bint Al Shatee Basic Cycle School for Girls, UAQ
• Dubai International Academy
• Our Own English High School, Girls, Sharjah
For more information, please visit http://www.ecoschoolsuae.org
