Our School DPS has always championed the cause of respect for the environment not only by adopting environment friendly practices in the school, but by creating eco-champions in each student.  Our school already received sustainability award and Sharjah Environment Awareness award. School's  next ambitious target is to be recognised as an Eco-School and be awarded with the Green Flag. 

The Eco-School is an international programme of the Foundation for Environment Education (an international NGO), and is aimed at promoting sustainable development through environmental education, management and certification. The eco-schools programme runs in around 60 countries globally and is administered in the UAE by the Emirates Wildlife Society in conjunction with the Worldwide Fund for Nature. To earn the award, schools must follow the Eco-School Seven-Step programme and implement initiatives which will reduce use of energy, waste and water.  The Green Flag is the internationally acknowledged symbol of environment excellence. It is primarily a student driven initiative, with each and every student of the school contributing to reduce use of energy, waste and water.

As one step further towards achieving this target  , our school DPS-Sharjah gave an environment touch to 2013 annual  DPS Carnival 'Ethfal' which happened today. This is usually an annual affair but this year it was special because I as Eco Committee Secretary had proposed the idea of putting up an'Eco booth' to display beautiful and innovative stuff made out of recycled material like magazine paper , can pull-rings , plastic , bottles etc.

We got huge response to our booth and many people came , were fascinated by the products displayed made out of used magazine's glossy paper , pull in rings etc.  Many visitors could not believe that these eye catching purses , hand bags could be made of such material like pull - rings of coke can , juice pouches -which usually people dispose of as trash/waste. We had put these for sale. The proceeds/amount collected from the sale has been given to PCF(Philippines Charity Funds) for supporting Haiyan Typhoon victims of Philippinnes.

Our Eco booth was based on theme'Recycling for a Cause'. We conveyed strong message of say no to waste by making a very innovative moving trash bag with tag conveying "Don't throw your waste , your waste will come and haunt you"?.  People found it very entertaining & appreciated it as interesting way to convey a very strong message.

I also conducted quiz to test knowledge of visitors regarding environment or common environmental practices or dos an don?t. Those who answered right were given prizes as appreciation. The objective was clear –to encourage people to know more & more about ways to conserve and preserve environment , to be mindful of our waste disposal habits , to be careful not to discard waste and rather retain it for recycling.

I also gave /donated about 100kg of recycleable stuff like magazines , newspapers , plastic bottles , cans to PCF (Philippines Charity Funds) so that they could make beautiful sellable products and contribute to Haiyan victims.

Additionally I gave 150 kg  recycleable stuff to our school recycling /Eco department. There were many other students and Parents who brought recycleable material to give . I received  all the stuff and we would be giving them certificate of appreciation to encourage them to continue recycling and avoid throwing waste to landfill.

Our 'Eco booth' had displayed various Eco living messages and also the '7steps towards being an Eco school' These 7 steps are :

1.      Forming an Eco Committee.

2.      Environmental Review.

3.      Action Plan.

4.      Monitoring & Evaluation.

5.      Curriculum Linking.

6.      Informing & Involving.

7.     Making an Eco Code.

Overall it was a good carnival and we are glad that we could educate many visitors on

Say NO to plastics

Don't be careless about waste.

Don't throw waste to landfill.

Beautiful items can be made from recycled waste.