The ‘green student champions’ from 12 schools in Qatar were yesterday honoured at an award ceremony. The function was held under the patronage of Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Director of the General Department for Agricultural Research and Development, Ministry of Environment, and organised by its subsidiary Qatar Green Centre and GE.Over 115 students and principals from 12 educational institutions in Qatar, who took part in the ‘My School, My Farm’ project, launched by Qatar Green Centre and supported by GE volunteers, received awards from Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani. At a special ceremony organised at the GE Advanced Research & Technology Centre at Qatar Science & Technology Park, representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Qatar Green Centre, GE and Al Otouria Research Station joined to congratulate the students and principals for their committed participation in greening nature and upholding the importance of agriculture. In first place were Al Khor Primary School, Al Shahaniya High School, Al Yarmouk Secondary School and Amina Bint Wahb Secondary School.‘My School, My Farm’ was a unique project held through December 2011 to March 2012, whereby students set up a farm, participating directly in all the agricultural practices that are involved. To support the project, GE volunteers visited the Al Otouria Agriculture Research Station in co-ordination with Department of Agriculture for special training sessions, and shared the knowledge of agricultural best practices with the students. They also undertook training sessions led by specialised engineers at Qatar Green Centre, especially in relation to taking care of crops and their harvest. The volunteers visited the schools periodically to assist in the progress of the projects. Nabil Habayeb, GE’s president & chief executive Officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: “The ‘My School, My Farm’ project by Qatar Green Centre at the Ministry of Environment is a landmark initiative that will serve as a model for all countries.”“We would like to thank the Ministry of Environment, represented by Qatar Green Centre, for giving us this opportunity to contribute and connect with the Qatari community through the support of ‘My School, My Farm’ project. We look forward to working with the ministry again in the near future,” Habayeb added.