Enviro-Spellathon takes off in Dubai

Teachers from Dubai schools and programme organisers were treated to a presentation on the environment by local schoolchildren from Salma Alansariah School.

This is the second year running that the programme is being implemented in Dubai schools. Whereas 19,251 children from 74 schools took part in the last academic year, in the current one, the Dubai Municipality is targeting some 24,000 students.

The programme, which has received sponsorship exclusively from Shell for the third year, is organised by the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF) and Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA). Patronage has been forthcoming from the Ministry of Education and Youth. Joining Dubai Municipality as co-organiser are the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah, Environment Protection and Industrial Development Commission in Ras Al Khaimah and a new programme partner - Fujairah Municipality.

Mr. Hamdan Al Sha'er, Director, Environment Department, Dubai Municipality and Board Member, EWS-WWF said, "It is important for children growing up in the Emirates to be familiar with the biological diversity existing on this land. With knowledge will flow a desire to care for, protect and conserve wildlife that our country hosts.

He added, "The Enviro-Spellathon sparks off interest in nature among students and teaches them how they can become 'Earth-friendly.' We are very pleased with the way the programme is progressing."

Six booklets or 'levels' on themes pertaining to the UAE's environment have been specially developed for the Enviro-Spellathon. These cover such subjects as wildlife, water and waste. Children between the age of 6 and 12 years in participating schools study the booklet appropriate to their level and are tested on its content. Depending on the scores attained, they receive gifts and certificates. The best 10 students from each school are nominated Enviro-Spellathon Ambassadors.

"It is the combination of student, teacher and parental involvement in the Enviro-Spellathon that makes the programme so complete and rewarding. Children study the booklets both at home with their families and in school under the guidance of teachers. This means that, besides the large number of students who are made more environmentally aware, as many families and the participants' teachers also benefit," said Mr. Abdalla Zamzam, Assistant Secretary General for Finance and Administration, ERWDA.

The programme has strengthened since its inception in 2001 in terms of student numbers, geographical coverage and content. Starting with just Abu Dhabi emirate in its first year, it expanded to also cover Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in 2002. Fujairah will be the fifth emirate to join in the current year. From some 45,000 student participants of 172 schools in 2001-02, the Enviro-Spellathon grew to reach 109,352 students of 387 schools in the following year.

Dr. Frederic Launay, Director, WWF-EWS, said, "Often, the simplest programmes have the greatest impact. The Enviro-Spellathon is one such. It lends itself to creative usage by teachers, family members and the students themselves. The programme is designed to grow with the child, so a student who has studied one level in a particular year, will move on to a more advanced level in the following year, and so on."

Said Dr. Mohamed Defrawi, Managing Director and General Representative, Shell Abu Dhabi "Shell is proud to be participating in this initiative because managing the impact of its operations on the environment is an integral part of Shell's sustainable development programme. Which means, the environment has been and continues to be a vital aspect of Shell's corporate agenda. The Enviro-Spellathon is an excellent way to reach out to children and place the building blocks of eco-preservation for them."

In the current school year, about 125,000 students are expected to partake of the programme from schools across five emirates.