DUBAI: The Emirates Environmental Group’s (EEG) 19th edition of the Environmental Drawing Competition was a huge success, as it recorded the participation of more than 445,441 students from 520 schools from all over the country taking part including schools with special needs.

This unique, one of a kind, nationwide annual Environmental Drawing Competition helps the student community to understand how their decisions and actions affect the environment, to support building knowledge and enhancing the necessary skills required to address complicated environmental issues, as well as envision and come up with practical solutions that can be taken to ensure the health of the planet and the conservation of its resources.

The competition was based on 3 powerful themes: –

1) ‘A Breath of Purity’, was developed for the students in the age bracket ‘6 to 8 years’.

2) ‘Wheel of Tomorrow’. Was chosen for the students in the age group of ‘9 to 11 years’.

3) ‘Waste-less Wonders’. Was the topic that was selected for the
students between the ages of ’12 to 14 years’.

To applaud the winners of this year’s competition, EEG conducted a standalone awarding ceremony on Wednesday hosted by the Ismaili Centre, Dubai. The Awarding Ceremony exhibited the amazing artworks of the winning students with strong environmental messages, creating a bright and colourful scene. Each of the marvellous drawings held a unique perception of current environmental challenges and demonstrated hope, which the youth hold for a sustainable future.

Mrs. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, EEG Co-Founder and Chairperson, warmly welcomed the students, teachers, press and other honorary guests to the Awarding Ceremony. She said, “It is with great pleasure that I extend a cordial welcome to all attendees to the 19th Cycle of the Environmental Drawing Competition Awarding Ceremony. I am sincerely delighted to observe the diverse representation of academic institutions from across the nation in our midst, including those dedicated to serving students with special needs. This
cycle of the competition has witnessed a unique level of quality of participation, a fact that I am profoundly proud of.’

She further added, ‘We introduced the Environmental Drawing competition as an annual event. This distinctive programme, weaved through various curricula nationwide, offers a dynamic and creative approach to environmental education through the medium of art. Over the past 19 years, it has empowered countless students to grasp their role in safeguarding the environment.’

She highlighted that when selecting the topics utmost importance is given to ensure that the students are exposed to the right environmental issues that affect us directly. For Example, highlight the concept of a sustainable city and air quality by reducing the carbon emissions in ‘A Breath of Purity’ which was developed for students in the age bracket ‘6 to 8 years’. Every year, 6.5 million people die from exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, and 9 out of 10 people breathe contaminated outdoor air that exceeds th
e acceptable levels set by the World Health Organisation guidelines. By framing the discussion around the theme of “A Breath of Purity,” the goal is to ignite creativity and imagination in envisioning urban spaces where carbon emissions are minimized, and air quality is pristine.

As for the topic of ‘Wheel of Tomorrow’. The Chairperson shared that ‘we prompted young artists from 9 – 11 years to depict the harmony between modern transportation and the natural world, emphasising the need for cleaner choices. Despite the consistency in the usage of green energy, over 90% of the fuel used for transportation still is petroleum-based. Every vehicle that is on the road releases an average of one pound of CO2 per every mile driven. If we look at the statistics, they show us that taking public transportation instead of a personal vehicle reduces CO2 emissions by 45%, decreasing pollutants in the atmosphere and improving air quality. Additionally, it’s estimated that through the use of public transit systems in the co
untry, around 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are saved on an annual basis’.

Continuing on the importance of moulding the future generation to be environmental stewards, the depth and complexity of topics are taken into consideration when selecting and allocation them. The oldest and last group of students in the age category of 12 – 14 years were given the topic of ‘Waste-less Wonders’

Source: Emirates News Agency