The Royal Visit - An Audience with The Prince

February 11th 2022

Six BSAK Secondary students met HRH Prince William yesterday at Jubail Mangrove Park to hear his views on environmental issues and to share their passion on the subject. It's been amazing to see BSAK students in press articles around the world, and if you're keen to read the full story click here: As Prince William pointed out, our young environmentalists represent the planet's future and he encouraged them to keep planting and following their passion.

Read more about the royal visit in Abu Dhabi in the Daily Mail.co.uk

British School Al Khubairat and Environmentalism

BSAK is a proud member of Eco Schools UAE and recognised with the Green Flag Award. Students monitor and engage in campaigns to minimise our energy and water consumption. Our Global Social Leaders have led the schoolwide Flip the Switch Campaign to ensure that all staff and students are thoughtful in how we use resources, leading to a demonstrable reduction in use. This group of senior student leaders worked with architects to design a sustainable primary dining hall. They researched water filtration units to be trialled in 2022 and e-waste recycling and donation efforts. The GSL ran an online competition for the whole of Abu Dhabi on the Global Goals. This saw over 120 students deliver speeches on how we can work together to make these aims a reality.

We have a robust Eco-Committee across Primary and Secondary that is led by Eco Ambassadors from Year 3-13. They have ensured that our cafeteria and cafe uses recycled materials and put a stop to single use plastic items, banning plastic cups. Eco Boards surround the school and awareness campaigns about Zero Waste UAE are delivered during assemblies and through our social media. We have committed to reducing waste in school and to learn about the impact waste has on our community. This led to a Twitter community competition, our recycling initiatives with DGrade Dubai and EEG. To lead in biodiversity our students have planted Ghaf trees on Saadiyat Island. Our year 5 students completed a beach clean up with Eco Venture as part of their curriculum. Year 3 learn about our UAE wildlife and perform an outstanding assembly.

BSAK has made Marine and Coasts a priority. This has seen our eco-conscious volunteers complete three nurdle hunts. We have had visits from outside speakers from EAAD and Araq to learn more about UAE and global marine issues. EAAD and Araq to name just two. We were a finalist for Roots and Shoots UAE with Jane Goodall, a hero who our students were fortunate enough to meet.

Amaan - Year 8

I am from the UK and have lived in the UAE for 11 years. I enjoy living in the UAE because of all the outdoor activities. I am a passionate athlete and adore playing outside- nature gives me a sense of peace.

I love studying the world, understanding how it works and our shared history. I am very interested in learning about the planet and what we can do to stop environmental problems like climate change. If we know why things happen, or how they happen, then we can develop a way to prevent them from happening. This is why environmentalism is important- it is beneficial to our future.

I would say that loss of biodiversity and species extinction is one of the most pressing threats to earth. I believe that loss of biodiversity and encroaching on nature has led to threats like the pandemic. If we continue deforestation and destroying animal habitats, it will drive them closer to us and put us more at risk of a virus spreading from animal to person. If anything COVID 19 should teach us that we have to protect our environment. Protect all animals. Trying to save them and ourselves from the spread of diseases. So much around us is taken for granted, and I believe that only when we start working together, can we really make a difference.

Something that inspires me is knowing that every bit counts. This phrase is something that constantly drives me. It allows me to continue to work hard, to show resilience, to achieve my goals and helps me whenever I am struggling. I have begun to realise that my actions have consequences but not all consequences are bad. I want to leave this earth one day knowing that, whether some or all of the world's sustainability goals have been reached, I have done my part. I want to be remembered as the person who did everything he could to protect the next generation. I have begun to acknowledge that there will be people after me and people after them and the best thing I could possibly do is help everyone in any way possible. I now know that I don’t have to know much to do my part. We only have one earth. No second chances.

In university I hope to study law. I believe that this will have a big impact as I will often be fighting for what's right. I will be trying to help people have a better future and try to teach as many people as I can about how actions have consequences.

Lilly-Rose - Year 8

I've lived in Abu Dhabi for 8 years and I love it because of the nature, it tells a story about the UAE’s past. We have everything from beautiful oceans, to mangroves, to the desert. Many family trips have been to visit these natural beauty sites. From here we have travelled whenever possible and my favourite trip has to be Zanzibar, it's really stunning and unspoilt. It has a lot of greenery, and many animals. My favourite day was swimming with about 100 wild dolphins. It was so beautiful. I have also enjoyed seeing the dolphins here in the UAE. Once I helped to collect nurdles from the beach to help protect them.

One of my favourite things about the environment is that it tells us about the world around us. I love learning about earth. In a way it answers the big question, what is life? Ever since I was younger I wondered how we ended up here and what life on earth is and thanks to geography and genuine research into the environment, we are one step closer to knowing.

Sadly the environment isn't always healthy, it is in trouble. For example sealife is dying due to plastic in the ocean. This is an issue because people aren't recycling their plastic which is killing our seas. Animals are also going extinct, this is because of hunters and building, it makes me sad that many animals are becoming extinct because of how humans are treating the earth.

I enjoy singing and music, my mother is a drama teacher so it is in my blood! When I go to university I'd like to study science as I find science really interesting and fun, I'd also like to do geography as I really like learning about the world and travelling.

Mohamed - Year 9

My name is Mohamed and I am Emirati. The UAE is a country that provides us with opportunities to be equipped with the skills needed to compete with other nations in the fields of science, technology and innovation. I always enjoy the initiatives and activities offered for us and this includes the museums, heritage activities, EXPO, Think science, and athletic competitions. The UAE is a country where you keep on learning and developing your insights as we live in a global hub.

The most exciting thing about studying the world is acquiring knowledge about different cultures. It is fascinating to identify how a person's culture is a reflection of the life they experience in a certain place, and the communications they have with the other communities. Moreover, studying world cultures leads to understanding of different beliefs, religions, and traditions, which eventually leads to tolerance of accepting people regardless of their cultural differences. Being a UAE citizen who lives in a country that hosts more than 200 nationalities, I value learning about other cultures to help me celebrate different communities.

I believe that global warming with its imposing threats that include the rise in the sea level and the climate change across the world is the most pressing threat to humanity. Climate change has led to an increase in the global temperature, which has caused the melting of the glaciers in the poles. This will increase the sea level and cause flooding. It is incredibly relevant today that students learn about the ecosystems and environmental threats in their country. When we have enough knowledge we can develop creative ways to protect the environment and the available resources.

My source of inspiration to make the world a better place is the influential leader of this country Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose vision transformed a mere desert into heaven on earth. The fact that we are living in a fast pace of technological evolution makes me willing to utilise such resources to improve the life of people and to eradicate all threats including environmental and health ones.

My future goal is to study Civil Engineering and to major in structuring green buildings, especially as in the UAE we focus on sustainable resources.

Zaid - Year 9

I am from Canada with an Iraqi background. Born in Toronto, I lived in Canada for the first year of my life until my family moved here, to the UAE. This means I have lived in this beautiful country for the past 13 years of my life and I am thrilled to be a resident. I love to travel places that I’ve never been before. I think that Canada (without bias), Switzerland, Austria and Azerbaijan are completely breathtaking- being on a ski slope is an incredible way to view the world. The main trend in these countries that I savour the most are the eye-catching mountainous regions. I think that being in a peaceful mindset with a calm environment is crucial to a healthy and happy life.

In my opinion, it is obvious that the main threat to our beloved planet is climate change. I adore studying the world and believe environmentalism is crucial. We have to bear in mind that the future children of this world are going to live with the mistakes made today.
Everything we don’t recycle, everything we don’t reuse- this will all come back to haunt us. We are currently seeing sea levels rising, animal extinction, droughts and floods. All we have to do is simply make better choices.

Avoid using plastic, flip the switch, attempt carpooling with friends and we save our planet. It is not a case of ‘better said than done’, no. If we all put our minds to it and think more before doing things, this problem can fade away. Learning about topics like poverty this year, it really leaves a mark in my brain to be more thoughtful and considerate.

In the future, I hope to study medicine in England and try to become a doctor later on. I know it requires hard work and dedication, but I believe that anyone can achieve their dreams if they have the right mindset. Medicine is key in sustainable development. Health workers during the current COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example of this as it is crucially important for them to provide the people with resources and be globally interdependent.

If I become a doctor someday I will, without a doubt, make sure to aid in the sustainability field and make sure I do my part in reaching the needs of the environment.

Rawda - Year 10

I am from Abu Dhabi and I've lived in the UAE since I was born. One of my most favourite things about living in the UAE is the people- they are very kind and thoughtful of their community. Even though only 11% of residents are originally from the UAE, the people from other nations celebrate the UAE’s achievement and we all learn about each other’s cultures. Seeing the world has helped me appreciate earth’s diversity. I enjoyed travelling to Italy because I loved the spectacular views and the water was crystal clear. In Sardinia they also have protected marine areas which host species in risk of extinction.

I think environmentalism is important because it is crucial to know the impact of human presence on the environment. I think climate change is the most pressing threat to our earth. It is leading to rising sea levels, ecosystems collapsing and more frequent and severe weather patterns such as heat waves, storms and floods. Sea levels rising could result in melting glaciers which could increase the volume of the sea which increases the pH and can result in an extreme effect to sea creatures due to their living ability and this can further lead to low lying coastal countries to flood. Frequent flooding could lead to loss of lives, property, crops and could affect people especially from low income countries.

Someone who inspires me to make the world a better place would be The founding father of the UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan peace be upon him. He stressed "With God's will, we shall continue to work to protect our environment and our wildlife, as did our forefathers before us. It is a duty, and, if we fail, our children, rightly, will reproach us for squandering an essential part of their inheritance, and of our heritage." Sheikh Zayed has a love of nature and not taking care of the environment he provided for us would not be fair to him or to the future generation who will be living after us. Under sheikh Zayed's leadership he planted an astonishing number of 100 million trees. He took time and energy to environmental projects such as the establishment of some of the region's first protected areas and initiating highly successful captive breeding programs such as the Arabian Oryx (1968).

In university I wish to study economics. When I'm older I want to be a businesswoman and work on projects which could make the world a better place.

Sumaya - Year 10

I am from Somalia, born in England and have been in the UAE for about a year and a half. When I reflect on the places in the world I love the most it is Wales and the UAE- both beautiful in different ways. I think what I most enjoy about the UAE is probably the beaches. The UAE’s coastline is beautiful, and I love how serene and quiet it can be. You're able to detach from the loudness of the city, relax and breathe fresh air. I have always liked travelling to Wales because it is so calm and green. My cousins live there so it is a ritual to travel and stay with them.

I think environmentalism Is important because it is almost crucial to know how we as humans affect the world that we live in and how we impact it. It enables me to see the world through clear eyes and be able to understand it at a deeper level. I would like to go to many places in the world, but one of the first things I would like to see is probably Niagara Falls. I have always loved swimming or really anything to do with water since I was child, so being able to visit there and just be able to see its beauty with my own eyes would be wonderful.

I think climate change is probably the biggest issue facing the world today. Rising temperatures, rising sea levels, glaciers melting will all eventually affect humankind in vast ways. How climate change will indirectly affect us is the increase of hunger and water crises, the health risk regarding rising temperatures or even the loss of biodiversity. Greta Thunberg inspires me because she is not afraid to combat and speak out loud on the wrongdoing. She sees how we need to change if we don't want the earth to slowly deteriorate. She started protesting at such a young age of 15 and it is good to see someone so young advocate for what she believes.

In university I would like to study medicine which would then lead me to become a surgeon. I think it has been a dream since I was a child. The health sectors have an important role linked to both the economy as well as environmental development.