Doha, Qatar: At the forefront of Qatar's environmental education landscape stands Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, the national operator for the Eco-Schools program in Qatar.
With its roots tracing back to the Foundation for Environmental Education's global network established in 1994, the legacy of Eco- Schools spans three decades. And since its inception in Qatar in 2018, this international initiative has been dedicated to empowering students to spearhead sustainable change within their communities.
The program plays a pivotal role in cultivating environmental awareness among Qatari youth, with its most recent milestone being successfully engaging with 20 public schools in Qatar.
Ruba Hinnawi, Technical Lead at Earthna, said: "In the academic year 2023-2024, we worked with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and welcomed onboard 20 public schools and trained 67 teachers.
“This milestone reflects the Ministry’s eagerness to integrate education for sustainability in the educational system in Qatar. To equip students with environmental knowledge and hands on activities to lead positive climate action for the sustainability of our communities.”
According to Hinnawi, the Eco- Schools program is making a key contribution to the future of environmental sustainability in Qatar. “Through student-centered events such as the Eco- Schools Congress, a biennial congregation where all registered schools and Green-Flag awarded schools network, Earthna offers the youth a platform to showcase their achievements as stewards of the environment to inspire others to follow suit”, she said.
The Eco-Schools Congress of 2023was marked by a thematic focus on marine and coastal ecosystems to coincide with the recent Earthna educational publication titled Qatar Unique Marine Ecosystem. "Every congress we try to offer students an opportunity to leave a legacy, during the congress this year, students designed reusable bags made from leftover fabric to replace plastic bags to protect our environment from plastic pollution and to increase biodiversity in Qatar,” Hinnawi said.
In a shift from the traditional education model to a more hands-on learning model, students took on the role of eco-entrepreneurs and created the bags from wasted fabric. These eco-conscious creations, which are serving as a vehicle for community engagement and environmental advocacy, are now being sold at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Education City Gift Shop branches located within the 2015 building (QF Headquarters) and Multaqa (Education City Student Center), as well as the pop-up shop in Torba Farmers Market. The revenue from sales is donated to a tree planting activity in the Education City under the QF Park and Plant initiative. All buyers are eligible to participate in this activity.
The last Eco Schools Congress saw 29 schools, eight of which were QF schools, come together to not only celebrate their achievements but also to foster a culture of collective learning, innovation, collaborative action and knowledge exchange, reflecting how, together, their students can shape a sustainable future.
Maryam Ansari, Creative Studio Specialist at QF Marketing, said: "We're thrilled to back this initiative, aligning with our mission for sustainability at the Education City Gift Shop. Beyond retail, we champion innovative sustainability ideas and support educational initiatives that share our goals."
