It was a red letter day when Our Own English High School, Sharjah Girls Branch received the Green Flag for demonstrating their excellence in  achievements related to environmental issues. This International Award was presented by Ms. Lisa Perry, Programme Director, EWS-WWF to the OOS Eco Club Office Bearers at a glittering ceremony held in the school auditorium on May 4, 2014.

The Green Flag is an International Award for excellence in sustainable environmental education and performance at schools. It is operated in the UAE by the Emirates Wildlife Society – World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF).

Ms. Ajita Nayar, Education Manager, EWS-WWF, Ms. Ghada Nabil, Education Officer, EWS-WWF, the members of the Award Team, were part of the august gathering. Mr. Abdul Aziz Essa Elias, Head of Unit, Warranty and Quality, Ministry of Education, Sharjah Zone and Mr. David Wilson, Director Asian Schools, GEMS took time off to grace the occasion.              

In her key note address, Ms. Lisa Perry complimented the school?s Eco Club members for the role they are playing in sustaining the environment and the projects they have been involved with. She also expressed her desire to visit the school and witness its laudable creative innovations in the form of Recycle Runwaay, an exclusive fashion show from waste materials.

Mr. David Wilson hoisted the Green Flag and later had an interaction with the student community commending them for their initiatives and promising his support for similar endeavours. He expressed his interest in the project undertaken by girls on the most economic font and discussed the feasibility of using the same.

Ms. Asma Gillani, Principal of Our Own English High School, Sharjah Girls spoke about the award,  and said, ?I feel extremely proud of our school?s achievement which was possible because of the concerted efforts of staff , students, parents and, also  the ancillary staff.?

Swathy Sanjay Sindhu, President of the school?s Eco Club said, ?OOS won the Green Flag Award because we are an eco-conscious community working towards a common vision.  There are big hands conducting Green Audits and small fingers switching lights off. That's what effectively makes us an Eco School.?

The award is a testimony of the collaborative efforts of the students, administration, teachers, senior management team and leadership team.

The school celebrated the event with dances based on the theme ?In Harmony? and ?Heal the Earth? which focused on the central theme of preservation of environment and sustainability. An exhibition of students? paintings highlighting the themes of environment and artefacts made out of recyclable materials were also put up for display.

The assessment team from the Emirates Wildlife Society, WWF and HSBC visited OOS for inspection a fortnight earlier, they were thoroughly impressed with the involvement and enthusiasm from Eco-Club members. They were also very complementary of the confidence displayed by the young eco – warriors, who spoke so eloquently about OOS environment initiatives and projects.

The School?s Eco Club is driven by student initiatives. These young green warriors leave no opportunity unexplored. They have joined hands with the Sharjah Muncipality, Beea?h, EWF-WWF and HSBC?s environmental initiatives and participate in many eco campaigns and competitions conducted by several eco conscious organizations.

Our Own English High School, Girls? Branch, Sharjah is one among the two Asian schools to have been honored with the Green Flag this year. Students view it as a reward for past work and as an incentive for future environmental actions.