Contest attracts more than 5,500 local participants, reaching to over 159,000 students in 162 schools.
Concluding two months of activity by school children across Qatar, Sasol, the international integrated energy and chemical company and Friends of the Environment Center (FEC) have drawn the winners of the ‘Qatar e-Nature’ schools contest, based on the successful ‘Qatar e-Nature’ app. The grand prize winner of two tickets and an all-expense paid nature trip to South Africa, home base of Sasol, will be announced in an award ceremony that will be held on 29 May 2014 at Sharq Village and Spa.
Launched in December 2013, the ‘Qatar e-Nature’ app is a first of its kind smartphone application that highlights the rich diversity of Qatar’s environment, including plants, birds, and insects. Sasol and Friends of the Environment Center collaborated on development of the app, which features content in Arabic and English. The app aims to support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 to promote sustainable development by contributing towards an environmentally aware population.
The ‘Qatar e-Nature’ schools contest launched in March 2014, supported by a promotional effort that reached out to 162 schools in Qatar, spreading awareness about the app and contest to more than 159,000 students.
Dr. Saif Al-Hajari, Chairman of the Friends of the Environment Center said, “We are delighted with the overwhelming response shown by students to the Qatar e-Nature school contest. Through the app we aimed to deepen awareness among the young generation of the beautiful nature of Qatar in an effort to further conservation efforts. Sasol is to be commended for its leadership and commitment to the local community through this and other initiatives that are having meaningful impact on the people and environment of this country.”
The contest was open to all students enrolled in schools in Qatar from grades 1 to 13. Participants who entered the contest online (contest.enature.qa) or through the ‘Qatar e-Nature’ app were encouraged to find the correct answers to questions about birds, insects and plants by browsing through the app content. In addition to the Q&A, the contest featured an optional photography competition, where participants could submit a photo of a bird, plant or insect taken in Qatar with his or her mobile device.
“The Qatar e-Nature app and contest demonstrate Sasol’s commitment to the local environment and the sustainability of the communities in which we operate. We are fortunate to have an excellent partner in Friends of Environment Center who are as committed as we are in contributing towards the Qatar National Vision 2030 environment pillar goals,” said Marjo Louw, President, Sasol Qatar. “We trust that through a bit of friendly competition we have raised awareness of the beauty of Qatar’s environment and have inspired the love of nature among the next generation.”
The winners are. Yusuf Moamed Saber Elshahhat: first grader from the Newton British School, Abdelrahman Qasem Saleh Alsharafi: second grader from Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmod Model Independent Boys’ School, Shreya Shamsundar: third grader from Al Khor International School – CBSE, Rohith Jawahar Vasagam: fourth grader from Khadeeja Primary Independent Girls School, Salman Abdulaziz fifth grader from English Modern School, Fadil Mizhar Salim: sixth grader from Cambridge School of Doha, Dana Zeyad Hassan Attatra: seventh grader from Hafsa Preparatory Girls School, Kanishq Verma: eighth grader from Birla Public School, Nandy Poblete Pungyan: sixth grader from Philippine School of Doha, Hannah Katja Wood: eighth grader from Compass International School, Dina Nayel Altarawneh: eleventh grader from Doha Academy – Salwa branch, Soud Hassan Mahdi Alhaddad : second grader at Alwafaa model independent School for boys, Iman Hashim: ninth grader from Mesaieed International School Secondary, Sara Khalid Aldarwish: tenth grader from Al Wakrah Independent Secondary Girls School, Reem Abdallah Salem: eleventh grader from Al Wakrah Independent Secondary Girls School, Affaq Khan: twelfth grader from Pakistan Education Center and Abdulkareem musaab Alattar: thirteenth grader from Al Emam Al-Shafaei Preparatory Independent Boy,
Ahmed Bin Mohammed Secondary Boys School, Al Khor International School – CBSE, Moza Bint Mohammad Preparatory Independent Girls School, Nosaiba Bint Kaab Primary Independent Girls School and Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmod Model Independent Boys School, were the top five schools with the highest percentage of participating students.
The Grand prize winner and awards will be announced and handed out in an award ceremony on 29 May at Sharq Village and Spa.
Sasol’s corporate social responsibility efforts in Qatar include a variety of social, educational, entrepreneurial and environmental initiatives. More recently, Sasol brought an acclaimed environmental-educational play to Qatar for the QP environment fair in 2014, reprising its success last year.
FEC is a non-profit organization seeking to enrich the concept of environmental conservation and community education. The center was established in October 1992. FEC manages independent activities and events funded through the cooperation and support from companies and private institutions.