Doha British School (DBS) Ain Khaled has received the Eco-Schools’ ‘Green Flag' award from the Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, a statement said Monday.
Earthna, a Qatar Foundation member, is an organisation which represents the largest global sustainable school programme in the country.
The Eco-Schools Green Flag Award demonstrates an appreciation of the school's commitment to both becoming more sustainable and educating its students about sustainability, it was explained.
The student-led committee has helped facilitate events and opportunities that explore solutions to environmental challenges. The initiatives focused on reducing waste and litter, reducing energy use and increasing biodiversity. Students have audited where environment and sustainability is taught across the curriculum, resulting in discussions and improvements across all subjects, ensuring there were opportunities for discussions surrounding awareness of the global environmental issues faced and environmental literacy.
"Events we have taken part in to get us to the Green Flag include Climate Awareness Week and Qatar Sustainability Week. These included many events which were all student-led and involved the whole community. We also have "Lights Out Thursdays" where students across primary and secondary encourage teachers to teach using only natural light,” said Emily Walles-Butler, geography teacher / Yellow Falcons house leader.
“Students have been busy campaigning for new recycling bins, litter monitors and increasing engagement in saving energy across the whole school. There are now bird feeders across the school and the committee is creating a greenhouse made out of recycled materials,” added Walles-Butler.
DBS has congratulated everyone involved in the process of achieving the Green Flag accreditation. "This is only the beginning as the school continues to develop current projects and create new student-led projects to improve sustainability. A special recognition goes to all members of the Eco-School Committee, including staff, parents, and students," the statement added.
