His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education lauded the initiatives and cooperation of the private and business sectors to education programs and schools’ activities in order to raise the children’s awareness with the environmental issues. This was said by His Excellency during his attendance to the presentation of the new book collection that aims for raising children’s awareness with environmental issues and was also attended by Rashid Salem Lakraibani Al Nuaimi-Director General of the Ministry, Dr. Foazia Badri-Executive Director for Educational Affairs, Kathryn Hoopmann-author of the book, Isolbel AbuHoul-Director of Magrudy’s, Jane Hodge-Publications Coordinator in Magrudy’s, and Kaltham Koheji-Regional Head of Communications & Sustainability in HSBC.
His Excellency the Minister of Education added that the ministry aims through its policies and plans to achieve communication with the members of the society and benefit from their ideas and initiatives that encourage activities in the schools especially the extra-curricular activities that would enhance and develop the skills of students and raise their knowledge. He also emphasized the importance of training students on raising their research skills, using information resources, improving their cultural and social awareness. “The book carries new ideas and has an attractive style; it also raises the students awareness with the environmental issues and encourages them to protect their society from pollution”, he added.
His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan explained that the UAE gives great concern to environmental issues through the support of its leadership to raise the awareness of the members of the society and organizing continuous media campaigns and cultural and societal awareness. The ministry is ready to support such initiatives and include them in their programs and activities.
Furthermore, Isolbel AbuHoul, Director of Magrudy’s “publisher of the book”, said: “Kathryn Hobb and Dona Acheson had a long experience in writing children’s books. Their collections of books have been translated to 17 languages and target children between 3-8 years old. The collection that was viewed by His Excellency the Minister of Education is in Arabic and English languages; it also promotes the environmental awareness in every young child, raises the awareness of the unpleasantness of danger litter, understandings of society’s impacts on animals and awareness of animals in the gulf region. It also covers various topics such as: reducing, reusing and recycling items, respect for local areas, fragile desert and preserve Al Ghaf trees. The Ministry of Education will include the book in the health education curriculum and will be distributed in 18 government schools of Madares Al Ghad in various educational zones”.
Kaltham Koheji, Regional Head of Communications & Sustainability in HSBC, said: “As a strong supporter of sustainable development, HSBC is committed to support environmental educational initiatives’ the two principal themes that we believe will make the world a better place. The school program will provide a great learning experience for young students. Our regional team has put together great efforts into making this program a success and we hope that the initiative will contribute to a new generation of environmentally friendly citizens”.
Koheji indicated that the project is funded by HSBC as part of it “Community Middle East Initiative” which is a US 2 million charitable and community initiative funding educational, environmental and community projects. Around 900 HSBC employee volunteers from the different branches will distribute the book to 12000 students in 150 regional schools in the Middle East of which 18 schools of Madares Al Ghad will be included in this project.