Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Elementary pupils from Jeddah Private International School took a break from the classrooms on Wednesday and Thursday and cleaned the Gulf of Salman beach as part of an initiative to increase awareness about pollution and global warming.

The students themselves came out with the idea during a discussion with their teacher on how to lend a hand to stop pollution and global warming. The students formed Jeddah’s Pollution Solution (JPS), an eco club, and themselves contacted the municipality offering to collaborate with it in a cleanup campaign at Gulf of Salman beach.

One of the students, Ahmed Saaty, said: “JPS aims to persuade the people to stop pollution, spread the bad news about pollution and global warming and convince them to start recycling and reusing waste.”

Shaheen Coenraad, the English teacher who participated in the campaign, said, “This was the first action project by the students after I asked them a question: How can we lend a hand and make a difference with regard to the problem of pollution and global warming? Then the students were brainstorming at class; they formed discussion groups and came out with a plan to start an eco club.”

He said the whole project was planned and prepared by the class.

“The main goal of the club is to build connections with the public and to do something to save the environment. The students talked about Saudi Vision 2030, and said to have a successful tourism industry in Saudi Arabia, we need clean the beaches,” Coenraad said.

Brendan May, principal at Jeddah Private International School, said: “At our school, we care about kids and their future. We strive to give our students high-quality dual language education while helping them stay connected to their faith and culture. We are working hard to prepare our students for a 2030 world by teaching them to think critically, communicate, collaborate and be creative.”