EWS-WWF Calls for Greater Environmental Education Ahead of Back-to-School season

Popular online environmental education programme Be'ati Watani returns after the summer break to boost children's conservation and wildlife knowledge

UAE: August 25, 2013: Children will soon be heading back to the classroom and Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) is calling on schools and students to focus their attention on environmental education. In a bid to sustain youth's interest in the conservation of Planet Earth and help preserve our natural heritage, the organisation is bringing its popular online environmental education programme - Be'ati Watani (My Environment, My Country) – back to the schoolroom for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The programme, designed to inspire a passion in young people about protecting the natural environment, comprises 8 levels, each focusing on different environmental concepts and challenges. At every level, students join animated characters Hamad and Ayesha to learn about UAE wildlife, tackling climate change and more. In the most recent level added in 2010, on climate change, Hamad learns of the role a small nation like the UAE can play in the bigger global problem and how it is responding to the challenge while learning about the individual actions we can all take to make a difference.

Commenting on the need for environmental education from an early stage, Ajita Nayar, Education Manager at EWS-WWF said: “Environmental education is an important element of sustainable development, and we are calling on teachers to continue to support the implementation of this exciting and interactive programme across UAE schools. We believe that by helping children improve their knowledge about our natural environment, we are creating motivated individuals who are passionate about protecting our planet from an early age. Children who are taught good environmental habits continue these actions into adulthood; therefore having a positive impact on environmental conservation in the long term.”

In total, 54,500 UAE students took part in Be'ati Watani during the 2012-2013 academic year, which was rolled out across 200 schools and supported by more than 300 teachers.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Be'ati Watani is an online programme created by EWS-WWF with support from Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and sponsored by Dolphin Energy. All aspects of the programme, including registration, testing, grading and obtaining certificates are online.

The programme is suitable for children aged 6 to 14 years. To learn more log on to www.beatiwatani.com 

Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF)

Emirates Wildlife Society is a national (UAE) environmental non-government, non-profit organisation that works in association with WWF, one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations.  EWS-WWF has been active in the UAE since 2001 and has initiated and implemented several conservation and education projects in the region. The mission of EWS-WWF is to work with people and institutions within the UAE and the region, to conserve biodiversity, tackle climate change and reduce the ecological footprint through education, awareness, policy, and science-based conservation initiatives. For more information please visit www.ewswwf.ae