Expo unveils school journey experiences for students

The Expo School Programme has unveiled four dedicated school tours of Expo 2020 Dubai, costing Dhs50 per student per journey.

At a recent Expo School Leaders Forum, more than 500 public and private school leaders and education decision-makers were encouraged to start planning now to make the most of these educational and fun visits.

“The World of Opportunities,” “The Universe in Motion,” “The Sustainable Planet” and “The Legacy of the UAE” will each take students on a journey, from exploring how their choices today can affect their world tomorrow to revealing the nation’s rich culture and bright future.

Alya Al Ali, Vice President of the Expo School Programme at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “As the innovators and thought leaders of tomorrow, school students have a central role to play in creating a better world for generations to come. Expo 2020 Dubai offers an unparalleled learning opportunity that will broaden their horizons and spark their curiosity.

“Our four dedicated thematic journeys will take students on a unique, meaningful experience. We aim to inspire them in an immersive and engaging environment where they can explore key drivers of future progress and discover the cultures and innovations of 192 participating countries. With so many fascinating learning opportunities, we encourage schools to include visits to Expo 2020 when planning their academic itineraries.”

Each journey has been designed with the needs of people of determination in mind, allowing all students to fully experience Expo 2020 – a six-month celebration of innovation, discovery and entertainment, and the largest event ever staged in the Arab World. Expo 2020 will run from Oct.20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

Tickets include entry to Expo 2020, one guided journey and an identification band. Expo will grant complimentary access for one accompanying adult per five, 10 or 15 pupils, depending on the age of the children.

More than 2,000 Expo site workers have enjoyed an activity-packed morning of competition and entertainment, in appreciation of their hard work in making the vision of Expo 2020 a reality and building on Expo’s goal to set new benchmarks for worker welfare, health, and safety.

Organised by Expo 2020 and co-hosted by Dubai Police and Dubai Sports Council, DSC, the event included yoga, aerobics, cricket and basketball, a football match against Dubai Police and a tug-of-war tournament. The site workers enjoyed a skydiving display, 70-man motorcycle parade, a police dog demonstration and a performance by the Dubai Police Marching Band.

Held on May 1, the event topped a week of health and safety training and was part of Expo 2020’s ‘Better Together’ Worker Welfare strategy, which, underpinned by the core values of care, respect and pride, aims to influence the wider operations of contractors to advance worker welfare standards throughout the industry for years to come.

Reem Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said, “At Expo 2020 Dubai, we consider worker welfare as a critical component in delivering a sustainable Expo that contributes to a meaningful legacy for the region. Hosting a World Expo for the first time in the Arab World represents a unique opportunity for us to make a positive impact, collaborating with our stakeholders to shine the spotlight on the importance of worker welfare. Today’s event is a great opportunity to express our gratitude to all our site workers who are essential to making the vision of Expo 2020 a reality.”

Recently, the Kingdom of Thailand broke ground for its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, becoming the first South East Asian country to begin the construction of its pavilion, according to WAM.

The ceremony officially marks the beginning of construction of the pavilion that will feature contemplative design and construction practices aimed at reducing its environmental impact.

The ground-breaking ceremony took place in the presence of Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, MDES, and the Commissioner General of Section for Thailand Pavilion; Dr Nattapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency; and Waravuth Pouapinya, Ambassador of Thailand to the UAE.

At Expo 2020, the Thailand Pavilion will represent the country through its ‘Mobility for the Future’ theme. Innovation-based development and visionary planning of transportation, logistics, digital connectivity and personal mobility will be combined with ‘Thai DNA’, that connects people globally through its hospitality, thoughtfulness and smiles of the Thai people.

Pattanapanchai said, “We are proud to participate in the first mega-event to be held in the Middle East, with the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. Thailand welcomes all participants and visitors of Expo 2020 with great warmth and goodwill to achieve global goals.

“Construction of the Thailand Pavilion will be divided into three phases including shell and core building, interior works and external works. Construction of the pavilion will include an approximate 250,000 manhours of work, with the pavilion expected to be completed and operational-ready by September 2020.”

Less than two months after its unveiling in Paris, the French Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai, Lumière Lumières, begins its construction.

Élisabeth Borne, Minister of State, Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, in charge of Transport, in the presence of the Expo 2020 teams and those of COFREX, in charge of French participation in universal and specialised exhibitions, on Thursday laid the foundation stone of the work designed by a new collective combining architects and visual artists of light. Built on a plot of more than 4,200m2 within the exhibition’s Mobility area (the other two being dedicated to Opportunity and Sustainability) the French Pavilion will offer an immersive experience to all its visitors.