DOHA: ‘Qatar e-Nature’ schools contest concluded recently with an awards ceremony at which the grand prize of two tickets and an all-expense paid nature trip to South Africa, home to Sasol’s global headquarters was presented to the winner.
Nasser Abdullah Ibrahim Hussein Ibrahim from Nasser Bin Abdulla Al Attiya Independent Secondary School for Boys won the grand prize trip to South Africa. The two and a half month long contest was held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, Sasol, the international integrated energy and chemical company, Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC) and the Supreme Education Council (SEC).
Several trophies and latest iPads and iPhones were awarded to students and schools for their outstanding participation during the competition. Rabiaa bin Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education represented the minister at the ceremony.
Thirteen winners from each of the age categories received their awards. Five schools were recognised for their students’ high participation rates: Al Khansaa Primary Independent School for Girls, Abu Obaida Preparatory Independent School for Boys, Nasser Bin Abdulla Al Attiya Independent Secondary School for Boys, The Next Generation School and Noble International School.
The schools contest, in its second edition, was based on the ‘Qatar e-Nature’ app — a first of its kind smartphone application that highlights the rich diversity of Qatar’s environment, including plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Sasol developed the application in collaboration with Friends of the Environment Centre, which features content in Arabic and English. Dr Saif Al Hajari, Chairman of the Friends of the Environment Centre said: “We are pleased with the fantastic outcome of the second Qatar e-Nature schools contest and are happy to have been able to contribute towards the awareness of the beautiful nature of our country.
This year, the Supreme Education Council lent significant support, extending the reach of the contest to all schools in Qatar. Since the contest launched in February 2015, the Qatar e-Nature Schools Contest featured 15,000 participants from various Independent and Private schools, with more than 3,000 photo entries where students had the option to send a photo related to Nature in Qatar.
A committee from Sasol, Friends of the Environment and professional photographers judged 3,000 entries for the accompanying photography competition. Three winners received their recognition awards on the evening as well.
The schools contest was open to all students enrolled in schools in Qatar from grades 1 to 13. Students were encouraged to find the correct answers to questions about birds, insects, reptiles, mammals and plants by browsing through the app content.The Peninsula
