HCT-Dubai celebrates Earth Week with 17 different environmental-friendly activities

The Higher Colleges of Technology-Dubai (HCT-Dubai), Women’s Campus, celebrated recently Earth Week. There were over 17 different environmental-friendly activities throughout the week. The Earth Week event was organized by the faculty and students of the Dubai Environmental Club within the campus; and was aimed at promoting awareness of global environment concerns, and encouraged staff and students to help save their own environmental space.

There were many activities that were promoted during the week including: a ‘Movie Majlis’ that showed environmental documentaries and feature films. There was also a daily ‘2^nd Hand Book Drive’ and ‘Recycle Shop’ which was sponsored by the Women’s Campus community. This activity encouraged a community of good will ambassadors.

Another exciting activity was the ‘Living Gallery’, a visual representation of the development of the UAE with “Scene I” depicting the birth of the UAE and “Scene II” representing growth within the country, leading to “Scene III” pollution. “Scene IV” depicted change and the environmental movement was depicted in “Scene V”. This led to a display of a picture gallery, where environmentalists displayed a pictorial representation of the beauty of the UAE. All college members were encouraged to make a pledge by adding a yellow ribbon to one of the trees in the ‘Living Gallery’. Thus the ‘Living Gallery’ evolved.

Other activities included: a daily ‘Environmental Competition’, a ‘Visual Pledge Board’, a ‘Suggestion Board’, an ‘Environmental Friendly Workstation’ and ‘Green Classroom’ competition.

These activities encouraged students and staff to share their ideas with members of the campus community and role model best workstations and classrooms. Instead of adding plastic to recycle bins, ‘Plarn @ Play encouraged the recycling of plastic into other products, which were later put up for bid in the ‘Recycle Shop’.

On the final day of the week, the ‘Recycle Shop’ turned into a ‘Free Cycle Shop’, and the campus community were encouraged to donate items. Additionally, Judith Doermer from the Women’s Campus and Mercy Pazhamalil from the Men’s Campus worked in collaboration and offered presentations to the staff of HCT– ubai in both campuses on how to ‘Green your Office and Workstation’.

“Earth Week at HCT–Dubai has been very successful, as all members of the college community have taken part in the environmental activities. By encouraging all individuals to take part, it will lead to more environmental awareness and action on behalf of all in preserving the natural resources and the environment of the UAE. If you think you can’t save the world, at least save your own space!” said Judith Doermer, HCT-Dubai faculty, doctoral student and Leader of the Environmental Green Team at HCT–Dubai, Women’s Campus.