Building on its continuous success, Sasol won “Best Initiative on CSR in the Energy Sector in Qatar” for its ongoing Qatar e-Nature initiative. Phinda Vilakazi, President of GTL Ventures and Jack Saba, General Manager of Public Affairs at Sasol, received the award at the fourth Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility and Awards, which was organised by Dar Al Sharq on 7-8 December 2016, under the patronage of the Governor of Qatar Central Bank and Chairman of Sport & Social Contribution Fund (Da’am Fund) Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al Thani.
This marks the fourth accolade for Qatar e-Nature, a first-of-its-kind smartphone application seeking to instill a love for Qatar’s natural beauty among the country’s residents. This award comes after the initiative was recognised by HE the Qatari Minister of Environment in 2015 for the application’s contribution to preserving the State of Qatar’s environmental resources, and regionally for “Best Mobile-Government Service Award” and “Best Arab Government Smart Applications Award.”
Phinda Vilakazi, President of GTL Ventures at Sasol said: “We are honoured to receive the “Best Initiative on CSR in the Energy Sector in Qatar” award from Dar Al Sharq. Qatar e-Nature serves as a valuable resource for the local community where it is being used by several schools as part of their educational curriculum and in our interactive schools contest, all in the aim of raising awareness about Qatar’s biodiversity. In accordance with our global corporate citizenship outlook, underlined by our mother hub in South Africa, Sasol aims to benefit the local community and economy in Qatar through our innovative and resourceful initiatives. I would like to thank our partners, Friends of the Environment Centre and The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, for their contributions and ongoing efforts. Sasol will continue to support initiatives that serve as models of public and private sector collaboration aimed at benefiting the country it is operating in.”
Launched in December 2013, the Qatar e-Nature application and website highlights flora, birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, marine life, and nature reserves in Qatar. Sasol created the app as part of its corporate social responsibility programme in partnership with Friends of the Environment Centre. The app features content in Arabic and English, which aims to support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 to promote sustainable development by contributing towards an environmentally aware population.
Commenting on the award, Jack Saba, General Manager of Public Affairs at Sasol said: “Sasol is very proud in receiving this prestigious accolade from Dar Al Sharq. Instilling a love and appreciation for Qatar’s rich nature was always our long-term objective for the Qatar e-Nature initiative. Moreover, through our partnerships with Friends of the Environment Centre and The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, we were able to bring nature to thousands of students in Qatar. Environmental awareness is an important aspect that Sasol focuses on as part of its global corporate citizenship. Lastly, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, we are eager to build on the success that has been achieved to-date by enriching Qatar e-Nature’s content and effectively involving our key stakeholders in the initiative’s future activities.”
Prior to receiving this award, Sasol, FEC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced last week the fourth annual Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest 2017. The contest, which will be held across all primary schools in Qatar, features teams of three formed from each school, who will compete with each other in groups of four schools on stage in front of audience. Communication with all primary schools and the team selection process began on 01 December 2016 and will last until 28 February 2017. The quarter and semi-final rounds will take place in March, and the finals and award ceremony will occur in April next year, where the winners will be recognized.
The user-friendly Qatar e-Nature app is available for download free of charge on Apple Store, Google Play and Windows Phone Store and on the website www.enature.qa. Active Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels allow users to keep tabs on the latest developments.