As part of its ongoing ECO-Schools programme, Doha Bank recently presented six schools in Qatar with awards to recognise their environment-friendly activities.

The winners this year were Bhavan’s Public School, Pakistan Education Centre, Philippine School Doha, MES Indian School, Birla Public School and Al Ahnaf Bin Qais Independent School.

The ECO-Schools programme, which is organised and championed by Doha Bank, has almost completed its third full year, having been initiated in March 2011.

The awards ceremony welcomed representatives of each winning school, including faculty and students, who were met by members of Doha Bank’s senior management team.

Bhavan’s Public School won its award for a waste management project involving composting, Pakistan Education Centre for an upcycling project in the waste management awards category, Philippine School Doha for paper recycling in the waste management category, MES Indian School for waste management, Birla Public School for a project called Go Green and Al Ahnaf Bin Qais Independent School for a tree-planting project.

“ECO-Schools is Doha Bank’s initiative as part of corporate social responsibility towards environmental consideration. Through the ECO-Schools programme, we are able to increase awareness of critical issues that impact our environment and encourage the youth of today to make positive changes that will change the way they live their lives in the future,” said Dr R Seetharaman, Doha Bank Group CEO, on the occasion, adding: “On behalf of Doha Bank, we congratulate everyone and encourage them to explore new projects and opportunities in 2014 that align with the Environmental Development pillar of Qatar
National Vision 2030.”

The ECO-Schools programme aims to encourage children to become environmental proponents and advocates at a young age and awards are distributed based on successfully completing active green projects that propagate the concept of eco-consciousness. The programme website, www.ecoschools.com.qa, works with educational institutions nationwide and entries for the current calendar of awards were received from schools across Qatar.

During the awards ceremony, an impromptu Green Quiz was held and it featured questions related to the environment and sustainability, along with presentations on relevant topics. The bank also distributed a number of Al Dana Young Savers Account prizes to the winning students to encourage them to start saving money from an early age.

As part of the event, Philippine School Doha presented a musical interlude using bamboo and reed instruments. The students performed songs such as ‘Paraiso’ and ‘Heal the World’. In addition, students from Pakistan Education Centre performed a ‘Recycling’ dance, focusing on proper waste management and its benefits.

Dr Alexander Acosta, the principal of Philippine School Doha, later addressed everyone and thanked the students for their efforts on behalf of all participating schools.