‘Greening’ Qatar, local companies and students commemorate Earth Day 2010

Qatar Foundation International (QFI) in collaboration with the Earth Day Network (EDN) commemorated the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd at the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. The environmental conference and workshop featured distinguished speakers Dr Saif Al Hajari, Vice Chairman of Qatar Foundation, US Ambassador Joseph LeBaron, and Beth Larson, International Education Manager of the Earth Day Network.
Guest speaker, Omran Al-Kuwari, CEO of GreenGulf, made a special announcement regarding a pilot to ‘green’ Qatari schools. In association with SolarWorld and Qatar Solar Technologies, GreenGulf has committed to providing and installing solar panels in up to four Qatari schools.
“Today, GreenGulf, in association with SolarWorld, Qatar Solar Technologies and other partners, is launching the “Solar Schools” pilot program that will bring solar technology and environmental education opportunities to schools in Qatar and the United States,” said Mr Al-Kuwari. 
“To broaden the impact of this project, the Solar Schools initiative will use the connection created by the ‘sister schools’ program to teach students in the US and Qatar about how modern technology can be used to produce clean and efficient energy,” he continued.
The workshop component of the Earth Day 2010 event saw students from four Qatari schools and the visiting Boston Arts Academy (USA) learn about renewable research, energy and the environment, as well as Qatar Cool’s sustainable district cooling technology. With these workshops organized by QFI and its partners, the youth of Qatar and elsewhere will have hands-on experience with pressing environmental issues. As future leaders, they may advance climate policy and work towards energy efficiency.
"The 40th anniversary of Earth Day is an exciting opportunity to highlight the amazing green energy and environmental education initiatives across the globe,” said Earth Day Network President, Kathleen Rogers. “Earth Day Network congratulates Qatar Foundation International as it works to create environmental awareness among its students, preparing them to be environmental leaders of the 21st century."
Other EDN green schools events were held in China, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nepal, where schools will also educate participants about the importance of community action, civic participation, and awareness of environmental issues that directly affect them. In Doha, QFI’s Earth Day program culminated with all participants, Qatari and American, taking part in a community service clean-up project at Al Wakra beach.