For Sharjah eco body, ‘Summer Is Better Together’

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) organised the fourth edition of ‘Summer Is Better Together’, a five-day programme launched at Desert Park on July 7. The programme includes interactive workshops, lectures, recreational and awareness-raising activities, and field visits to places including the Rain Room and Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.

The programme was organised by several government organisations including Sharjah Police’s General Command, Sharjah Museums Authority (Sharjah Science Museum and Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization), Sharjah Art Foundation (the Rain Room), Sharjah Natural History & Botanical Museum, EPAA’s Inspection Department, Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre, Kalba Bird of Prey Centre in the Eastern Region, and Sharjah Cat & Dog Shelter.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson, said, “For four years, we have been keen to organise this summer programme, which is of great benefit to students. Every year, the students are enthusiastic about taking part in the programme, which fills their free time with useful activities and promotes environmental awareness. We have completed all the arrangements.”

Al Suwaidi explained that the programme was designed for male students between 12 and 16 years of age. It promotes creative thinking, teamwork and provides an inspiring learning environment.

Activities include field visits to EPAA’s headquarters on July 7th, to Sharjah Cat & Dog Shelter and Sharjah Science Museum on July 8th and 9th respectively, to Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre and to Kalba Bird of Prey Centre in the Eastern Region. In addition to workshops and lectures, EPAA has also organised visits to Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and the Rain Room at Sharjah Art Foundation.

EPAA pays attention to environmental efforts and awareness-raising activities that help develop the students’ abilities and talents; the summer programme was designed to encourage students to spend their time on beneficial activities. The programme will conclude with a closing ceremony to honour the participants and organisers at the EPAA’s headquarters in Sharjah.

All EPAA’s activities, programmes and events are in line with the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The emphasis is on the importance and necessity of protecting the environment, wildlife and biodiversity through scientific research and by developing policies that raise awareness and support sustainable development. EPAA works to conserve environmental resources to ensure that they are used for the benefit of the present generation without sacrificing the rights of future generations. In addition, it seeks to be the main resource and reference in Sharjah for information about the environment and wildlife. EPAA also collaborates on environmental affairs with public sector organisations at the scientific and practical levels. The Authority also encourages members of society to get involved in this noble goal in order to enhance awareness and disseminate information about the environment.

Recently, Sharjah Natural History & Botanical Museum of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) launched an event on the occasion of International Museum Day. Aimed at the other museum’s staff and visitors, the programme ‘Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Traditions’ included a presentation featuring samples from the museum and the distribution of leaflets about the EPAA and the Museum. The programme will continue until early July.

The event highlights museums’ active roles in their communities and their core tasks of collecting, conserving, communicating, researching and organising exhibitions for the communities that they serve. As part of this year’s theme, Sharjah Natural History & Botanical Museum will celebrate International Museum Day by presenting various samples at other museums in the UAE.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson, said, “The aim of the event was to attract new groups of visitors and to introduce the community to the museum’s samples and cultural role and to the history of the UAE.”