ENVIRONMENT-UAE: Program to educate children on nature and biodiversity

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, Feb 11 2003 (IPS) - The Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) and the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) and the Dubai Municipality, have launched the Enviro-Spellathon 2002-2003, one of the most extensive environmental awareness programs for children ever conducted in the UAE.

It was launched at a ceremony held at the civic body’s headquarters on Sunday. The program targets over 125,000 primary schoolchildren aged between six and 12 across the four emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras AI Khaimah, according to a report in ‘Khaleej Times’.

Conceptualized by the WWF in Hong Kong and implemented first in Pakistan where it achieved success, the Enviro-Spellathon was developed by ERWDA for the UAE in 2001. It encourages children to read and comprehend information on local plants, animals and habitats, information on which is divided at different levels for various age groups.

The program helps children improve their knowledge on the regional wildlife, makes them sensitive to nature and imparts sound environmental education. It also urges families to get involved when children bring home their course-work. Every participant studies relevant booklets over a period of two weeks after which the coordinator teacher of each school conducts a test on it.

At the end of the program certificates are awarded or prizes are distributed. The one who scores highest is declared ‘Enviro-Spellathon Ambassador’.

Initiated in Abu Dhabi last year, Enviro-Spellathon 2001-2002 drew 49,000 student participants. Buoyed by its enormous response, program organizers and sponsor extended it to other emirates. This is the first year that the event is being implemented in Dubai, where it will cover 22,000 students in 107 government and private schools.

Hamdan Al Shaer, Director of Environment Department at the Dubai Municipality and Board Member of EWS-WWF, said: "We are pleased that such an educative and enjoyable project is being introduced in Dubai schools with the help of EWS-WWF, ERWDA and Shell." He added that the municipality was keen on raising environmental awareness programs for the benefit of the future generation.

"Enviro-Spellathon is an important step in this direction, more so because the program stimulates interest in the UAE’s natural environment among urban children who have little knowledge about and less exposure to the country’s biodiversity," Mr Al Shaer said.

Delighted with the enthusiasm with which the program had been received, Majid AI Mansouri, Secretary-General of ERWDA, said: "The response to Enviro-Spellathon has been overwhelming since its inception last year. The program drew participation from 300 schools in Abu Dhabi, AI Ain and the western region in its inaugural year, while this year, not only have we enlarged its geographical coverage, but also incorporated two additional levels, targeting students of age groups between 6 and 7 and 11 and 12 years."