Shell Better Environment Awards 2006 to attract participation from larger number of schools across the UAE

The 2006 edition of the Award is expected to draw participation from a larger number of schools across the UAE.

In keeping with its commitment to environmental sustainability, Shell & the Ministry of Education has invited schools all over the country to enter the Better Environment Award 2006 (BEA), and the Ministry organized a briefing session for educational zones in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to brief award representatives who will in turn pass on information to their respective educational institutes.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Head of External Affairs and HSSE (Health, Safety, Security and Environment), Shell, said, "Sustainable development and environmental preservation is a crucial challenge facing the world at the turn of the new century. It is the responsibility of every citizen of the world to work towards preserving and bettering the environment, and leave it a suitable habitat for future generations. This belief prompted Shell to start the Better Environment Awards that not only aim to make an immediate positive difference on the region's ecology and environment, but also increase environmental awareness in the next generation of decision makers and empower them to make a difference."

Shell has invested up to AED 4 million over the years for the Better Environment Awards, organized with the co-operation and assistance of the UAE Ministry of Education, and supported by the Federal Environmental Agency (FEA) as well as the Environmental Department of the Dubai Municipality and ERWDA (Environmental Research Wildlife and Development Agency).

"It is extremely heartening to see the wide-ranging impact of the Shell BEA Awards as well as the fact that several governmental and not-for profit organizations have stepped up to offer support for an effort that intends on making a positive contribution," Al Mahmoudi added.

Over the past decade, schools in every emirate have submitted about 2000 ideas for environmental projects, about half of which have been selected to receive grants from Shell to enable student teams to complete their projects. To date, around 150 of these finalists have received Better Environment Awards.
The awards are open to students in both government and private sector schools with entries falling into three categories - Towards sustainable less polluting forms of transportation, Environmental Awareness Campaign and Environmental Field Study.

Entry application forms along with posters and information kits are now being sent to more than 1200 schools in the UAE. Projects will be short-listed for grants, and winning schools will be notified by The Ministry of Education, by October 22. After receiving their grant, student teams have until the end of March 2006 to submit their completed projects.

"The idea behind the awards is not just to increase awareness but also translate ideas into action by giving participating students ownership of their projects. We shortlist winning ideas, and provide grants, after which the onus of successful implementation of their idea falls onto the students. We are aiming to encourage not just thinkers, but leaders that can translate ideas into practical steps to combat a very real problem," concluded Al Mahmoudi.