Sharjah Girl Guides’ ‘Pick & Grow’ Initiative Promotes the Youth’s Love for the Environment

Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG) organized another edition of their ‘Pick & Grow’ initiative to promote environmental awareness among its young members. The aim of the initiative was to educate brownies, guides and senior guides on the right selection of plants and trees, and to then teach them about best planting techniques, thereby improving their gardening skills.

 

Coinciding with the UAE Afforestation Week, the event was attended by representatives of government and private entities.  Members of the audience wore jackets with the slogan “Joining hands, planting lands”  with SGG girls to plant almond saplings along with the trees that past and present members have planted within the SGG premises since its establishment.

 

Sheikha Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Director of SGG, said, “the event reflects SGG’s keenness to strengthen the relationship between humans and nature by instilling a love for tree plantation and gardening in our young members. Through Pick & Grow, we aimed to teach them the nuances of caring for plants depending on their type and specific needs, as well as different methods of planting. These are skills that they will benefit from for the rest of their lives, and pass them on to future generations.”

 

She added: “In the first edition of the initiative, we came together and planted Ghaf trees, followed by palm and henna and Sidr in the following years.”

 

Al Shamsi pointed out that, “the planted trees represent the vision of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to support environmental conservation; natural resources and biodiversity preservation, to promote sustainability. We benefit from the Sharjah Ruler’s successful experiences in afforestation and are sufficiently guided to launch effective programs to increase green spaces in the country. Pick & Grow essentially wants to send a message to the younger generation that protecting a tree means protecting our country, fellow humans and the planet.”

 

Whayeb Al Kamaly, Head of municipal affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said: “The UAE government has been committed to supporting and developing its agricultural sector in line with the directions of our founding father, the Late Sheikh Zayed. This was reflected in his famous statement, ‘give me agriculture and I will give you civilization’.”

 

He added: “Since then, the UAE has become a role model in the field of afforestation and urban landscaping. We have been implementing many programs to create more green spaces to offset the carbon footprint in the country. The Guinness World Records reported in 2009 that the UAE was home to more than 40 million date palm trees, the largest number in one nation anywhere on the planet.

 

“Afforestation Week launched by the UAE Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has been embraced nationwide with the planting of thousands of 25,000 trees in one emirate and the opening of five parks in the first quarter of 2019.”

 

The event featured various activities, including an interactive workshop, presented by Rashid Al Ketbi, specialized of organic farming, is aimed at developing the planting skills of SGG members and raise their awareness about the importance of environmental conservation to enhance ecological sustainability. Participants also learned more about planting techniques, and types of soil, planting tools and fertilizers.