EPAA announces winners of Sustainable Trees Initiative

This was in collaboration with the Emirates Foundation for School Education, Sharjah Private Education Authority and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai.

The initiative targeted: Kindergarten students (kindergarten two), basic education students – first cycle, basic education students - the second cycle, secondary education students, to implement a 10-days program of educational awareness activities for each school category about the Al Ghaf and Mangroves trees. The participating schools have completed the process of implementing the initiative's program of activities.

Encouraging local cultivation and attention to the preservation of perennial annual plants
Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah said: "The sustainable trees initiative embodies the visions and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, emphasizing social responsibility in preserving the environment of wild areas and its biodiversity, encouraging local agriculture and taking care of the preservation of perennial annual plants. It promotes the concept of social entertainment in wild natural environments and raises awareness of positive behaviours beneficial for the environment, and the importance of preserving Al Ghaf trees.” 

Her Excellency indicated that the initiative aims to spread a culture of awareness among schools’ students, educating students with information related to long-term trees species, the benefits of Al Ghaf and Mangrove trees to humans and animals, past and present and the importance of preservation as an important national treasure in the Emirates.

Various activities
All schools participated by engaging in a variety of activities and events, including planting Al Ghaf tree seedlings, representative dialogue, writing short stories about Al Ghaf, designing brochures and posters, writing articles about Mangroves, visiting Khor Kalba Centre for Mangrove, and other interactive activities.

Based on the evaluations, the distinguished schools that implemented a comprehensive action plan that included a program of interactive and educational activities for students on the importance of Al Ghaf trees and Mangroves as sustainable trees, were honoured. 
Three winning schools were selected from each school category. The winning schools for the categories Kindergarten and Basic education – Cycle One Schools, were honoured for their excellence in implementing a distinguished program of activities about the Al Ghaf tree. And for the categories of basic Education – Second Cycle schools and Secondary Education schools were honoured for their excellence in implementing a distinguished program of activities about the Mangrove trees. 
Initiative closing ceremony
The EPAA honoured the initiative's cooperating parties and winning schools during a special ceremony. This included the organization of a special exhibition, where winning schools presented their activities that they implemented during the initiative, and the winning schools were granted a Certificate of excellence, Trophy, and a Financial prize.

Winning Schools
The winning schools from the kindergarten category are, Al Baraem Nursery, New Delhi Private Kindergarten and Al Garayen Nursery. 

The winning schools from the category of the Basic Education – First Cycle schools, are the American School of Creative Science, Al Andalus School for Basic Education,  and Al Zuhour Private School.

The winning schools from the category of Basic education – Second Cycle are Pakistan Islamia Higher Private School, Masar Private School, and Al Najma Private School.

The winning schools from the secondary education category are:  Al Ansar International Private School, Al Rifaa School for Secondary Education, and New Indian Model School.