As UAE youth are recognised for their contributions to the environment, we take a look at what’s driving our students to step up for conservation

It’s a maxim that underpins the concept behind environmental youth group Roots and Shoots. Founded by primatologist Dr Jane Goodall in 1991, the global initiative appeals to children all over the world to be the change in their society right now.

“We’re helping the environment by making things out of recycled materials, like bottle caps and planting vegetables,” explains Raooul Balachandran, 12, a student at Raha International School. Together with his classmates, he participates in the school’s Taking Action Club — making and selling flowerpots from bottle caps, using the proceeds to plant a vegetable garden.

For the students at Sheikh Zayed Private Girls Academy, old school books gave them a bright idea: “Instead of throwing away our school books at the end of the year, we collected them all together to make works of art,” says Fatima Abed Al Naser, 14.

For NYUAD student Kate Melville: “The thing that comes up over and over is that it is so much easier to target the young and have them teach their parents – this is the only way we can see change happen. We have one of the largest carbon and waste footprints, and we use more water than almost anywhere else in the world.”

To find out more about Roots and Shoots, visit: rootsandshoots.ae

WORDS Camille Hogg