The Saudi Environmental Society (SES) had announced several months back its plans to turn the Kingdom's schools eco-friendly, with Jeddah being their first project. As part of the campaign “Green Flag, Green Nation,” the SES, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, has just commenced its first environmental workshop for teachers at the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) in Jeddah. The workshop is focused on training and educating 143 teachers from kindergarten, primary and intermediate schools on the importance of environmental preservation and sustainable growth. The trainers will eventually move on to other cities of the nation. “Launching this campaign to turn the Kingdom's schools into greener schools is one of the most important strategies that the SES has adopted in the scope of raising environmental awareness in the Kingdom's society. The campaign is sponsored by Prince Turki Bin Nasser, president of the PME. The most effective way to accomplish an increased interest in the environment among the general society is to start with the younger generation by targeting all schools across the nation,” said Dr. Majda Abu Ras, the deputy executive director of SES. “Involving the community and motivating them to be more active in protecting their own environment, along with the government's work, will help solve the environmental problems in the Kingdom, and prevent any new environmental crises from occurring,” said Abu Ras. She added that the school campaign also aims to change the behavioral and lifestyle patterns of school principals, administrators, teachers and students. The program promotes recycling, water and electricity conservations, and a general sense of responsibility to clean up our immediate environments. __
