Nisma Rafiq Saudi Gazette We all are creations of Allah, the Almighty. Everything He made has a purpose, and so nothing is useless — big or small. This week, we try and minimize our waste by reusing them in our life creatively. It sounds hard but it is simple and very interesting too. Have you ever wondered where all the trash goes when you throw it in the dustbin? It doesn't stay there forever, of course. Most of it is dumped into oceans or buried deep underneath the ground. This act of humans has greatly effected the marine life, the number of sea creatures and plants getting extinct is extremely saddening. However, with the advancement of technology some waste material is getting recycled to save all natural resources from getting depleted. Art has also played an important role in the recycling process. Products made from recyclable materials not only look beautiful, they save valuable resources too. Tajwar Agha, an art teacher at Al- Fikr international School, said, “Science is the world as it is visible through eyes. It's more practical unlike Arts which is the true inner self of human. It is the peace of soul and helps kids express themselves.” She added, “Use empty match boxes to make a doll's dressing table. Wrap them up with colored crepe paper and and use foil as a mirror. With an empty mobile box you can easily make a doll house, use wooden stick to make a roof.” There is no need to go out and buy expensive toys when you can make them at home. It will pass your time and save resources. Raza's favorite subject is arts, “I love playing with colors. I put my drawings on the wall and my mother does not have to buy scenery from the shop.” Art is simply being creative and innovating ideas according to Samia Saleem Abu Hajla, a passionate art teacher at Jazeerat Al Uloom International School. “Let them be unique and appreciate things. They should know that even a piece of paper should not be taken for granted.” She suggested a lot of wonderful ideas like using metal caps or bottle caps. Paint them or stick some papers on them. You can make a badge with a smiley face or you can put a magnet behind it, a beautiful picture on the front and stick them on the fridge to make your mom happy. Reuse the empty water bottle; put some soil and a seed in it. Grow a money plant and put it on your window sill. When your mother makes an omelete don't let her throw the empty egg shells, use can even use them as a pot to grow a small plant or cover them with cotton and stick some wooden legs to make a sheep for your farm. With a brown paper make some puppets, such as, a lion, a cat or a robot. Memorize simple dialogues and practice English through puppetry, entertain your friends and your parents. “Everyone has lots of magazines and newspapers at home. Think of a theme, cut pictures of your and make an interesting collage,” said Abu Hajla. Nasreen Haq, a teacher at Essence of Knowledge international School is an ardent art-lover. She has been teaching arts for more than six years now. She says, it ripens the mind and explores a child's creative side. Aisha, Hamad and Munir are always hunt for stones and shells on the seashore. When they go home they paint them, adorn them with glitter or other embellishments and use them to make bracelets or necklaces. Sometimes, they fill the colored-stones in glass vases kept in their drawing rooms. Ikram Saeed Al-Hijazi, a KG1 teacher of Hadiqa Al-Baraim is already instilling creativity in her children. She makes kids learn from recycling. She used a disposable plate to make a pizza with all recyclable items. Now, her children are aware of how a pizza is made. Abdul Aziz, three, loves making it and calls it a home-made pizza from Pizza Hut. Maya Muneer Lutf, five, made a princess with a large wooden spoon by decorating it with buttons and ribbons. “I eat with my princess-spoon because I am a beautiful princess.” Product Time to Biodegrade Apple core 1–2 months General paper 1–3 months Paper towel 2–4 weeks Cardboard box 2 months Cotton cloth 5 months Plastic coated milk carton 5 years Wax coated milk carton 3 months Tin cans 50–100 years Aluminium cans 150–200 years Glass bottles forever Plastic bags 10–20 years Soft plastic (bottle) 100 years Hard plastic (bottle cap) 400 years
