Foundation students take gold by going green

Nov,2008

An environmental awareness campaign conducted by the 2007 Foundation Program students took top prize for a public awareness program at the 2008 Qatar Today Green Awards.

Created by Qatar Today magazine, the Green Awards program acknowledges and promotes environmental activism in the country. Numerous local businesses, institutions, and individuals - each with a positive impact on the environment - were also nominated for the awards.

"People have got to do something"
The student program, held on April 22 to celebrate Earth Day, was a success in and of itself. The class created a variety of displays and demonstrations to educate faculty, visitors and their fellow students about threats facing the global environment, and what positive steps they can take.

Displays included an overview of proposals from the scientific community to reverse the effects of global warming, and concept products made from post-consumer or natural materials. "I designed a garbage can made out of used cans," presenter Amna Al Khuzaei said. "Other people made paints from natural colors instead of artificial ones. Some others showed how paper is recycled, or did origami re-using paper."

"It was to get the students thinking about how we could preserve the environment," said Al Khuzaei. "People have got to do something."

Qatar is still a young country. Although it has no full-scale recycling program as of yet, the student program highlighted many things individuals can do now. Turning off lights and computers when not in use, turning down air conditioning, and using less paper (by not printing unnecessary files, using fewer paper napkins, etc.) all make a significant difference.

The success of their program on campus inspired the students to also take their message to a number of area schools. The positive tone of their campaign resonated with students in primary and secondary schools. "It's a message of hope," said senior lecturer in English Dr. Krystyna Golkowska. The students were inspired to create the program after viewing the documentary An Inconvenient Truth in her class.

The students believed they could help build awareness and interest, and sustain it until a solid waste treatment plant, currently in development, is operational in Qatar. "Once there is a facility in place, we will be ready," Golkowska said.

The recognition they deserve

19th century Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." That was the only recompense the class expected for their efforts. "We just did it because we were discussing the global warming issue," said student Aljazy Al-Maraghi.

But when Qatar Today announced their awards, Dr. Golkowska saw it as a chance to show her support for the class. "Frankly, when I nominated the students, I didn't even think we would win anything, but I wanted to recognize their effort and encourage them," she said. "We were very pleasantly surprised when we found out we were one of the finalists."

Now in their first year of the Pre-medical program, former Foundation students Al-Maraghi, Al Khuzaei and Zahra Makki were chosen to represent the class at the October awards ceremony. As nominees, the students were in prestigious and worthy company - an environmental studies center and a bank were also nominated in the public awareness category. But when the big moment came, the Foundation Program was announced the winner.

The former Foundation students already intended to continue spreading the message of environmental responsibility, even before the award. "We got a lot of positive feedback from other students who said they would like to join us next year," Al-Maraghi said. "We can make it on a larger scale and involve other [Education City] schools."

Report by Chris Gibbons