Over 150,000 students take part in Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi's Enviro-Spellathon Programme

Abu Dhabi, July 29, 2013 (WAM) - Over 0.15 million students from 366 schools have participated in the 12th edition of the annual Enviro-Spellathon Programme, hosted by Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD). The Annual Enviro-Spellathon is a curriculum integrated educational programme targeting school students from the ages of 4 to 13 years in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi aimed at increasing children's environmental knowledge and to instil environmentally friendly behaviour in them from a young age. Since its inception, the Enviro-Spellathon was run in collaboration with the support of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and Shell Abu Dhabi. Running annually for the past 12 years, the Enviro-Spellathon saw the participation of thousands of students across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This year over 151,000 awards and certificates were distributed to students and coordinators to recognise their efforts. Fozeya Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Director of the Environmental Outreach Division, at EAD, said: "The Enviro-Spellathon is one of our longest running educational programmes. With our aim of creating a generation of environmentally aware leaders of tomorrow, it is essential that we have a long-term planning mindset. With our programmes, we follow these generations from the youngest stages through to university, equipping them with the knowledge and skills that will empower them to champion sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi." Along with its educational materials, EAD also publishes creative pieces by students such as stories which were submissions of the Annual Environment Competition. To better reach the youth and engage them through a popular medium, EAD also created the online portal, Shaheen's World (accessible via www.ead.ae) and offers customised environmental education games such as Greeno, eco smart business and environmental champion game. - Emirates News Agency, WAM