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ABU DHABI, 4th November, 2022 (WAM) —As part of its mission to empower young people to become future environmental experts, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) today launched ‘Murshed’ – its Young Eco Rangers programme, which inspires young people to volunteer as eco rangers. The programme aims to annually train a group of 14 to 17-year-old students from Cycle 2 and 3 schools in Abu Dhabi to understand the role of ecological rangers in protecting and maintaining the environment.
Implemented in partnership with the Emirates Schools Agency (ESE) and the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), ‘Murshed’ is an EAD education programme designed to inspire and engage students who are committed to and interested in conservation, protecting the environment
The program also provides ample opportunities for young rangers to receive mentorship and develop their leadership skills and gain experience in the field of environmental education. They will also engage in environmental protection activities and interact with experts from the EAD to learn about the public and private responsibilities of ecological rangers to strengthen youth efforts in ecosystem restoration in line with the UN Decade.
Interested students can now register to join the first cohort, starting December 12th, and sponsored by TotalEnergies. In this phase (2022-2023), around 20 students will be trained in the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, and in the next phase (2023-2024), 20 students will be trained in the Mangrove National Park.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: “Connecting youth to the UAE’s natural heritage, educating them about Abu Dhabi’s most prominent environmental issues and efforts, and providing them with opportunities for academic and professional development, will To enable young people to participate in the conservation of nature through personal, academic or professional endeavours.”
She said the long-term goal of the program is to introduce young people to employment opportunities in the fields of environmental education and wildlife conservation, and to provide them with a platform to provide leadership activities for the professional development of their training as ecological rangers. It also raised students’ environmental awareness and introduced them to the natural history of the UAE through field trips to nature reserves in Abu Dhabi.
Khansa Al Blouki, Director of Environmental Information Outreach, science and outreach EAD’s management commented: “This programme aims to improve youth programmes and opportunities in schools participating in EAD’s Sustainable Schools initiative by introducing new generations to professional, academic and career opportunities in the fields of environmental protection, conservation and sustainable development.
“Students will be introduced to the multifaceted roles and responsibilities of an ecological ranger, including mantras as guides, tourist assistants, inspectors, rangers, researchers and reporters,” explained Al Blouki.
She added: “They will be trained in the skills and knowledge needed to inspire others and safely guide a group of young schoolchildren through the Al Wathba Nature Reserve and other reserves in the coming years, including the Mangrove National Park. There will also be training sessions focused on team building, communication, active listening, critical thinking, planning and development, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation, problem solving, negotiation, operations and service.”
Elias Kassis, National Chairman of TotalEnergies in the UAE, commented: “The TotalEnergies Foundation aims to channel its civic initiatives to youth, contributing to the company’s community engagement. TotalEnergies has set itself the ambition to achieve net zero emissions together with society by 2050. , and through the TotalEnergies Foundation in collaboration with environmental protection societies and agencies such as the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency”.
He continued, “The Murshed programme exemplifies the TotalEnergies Foundation’s commitment to raising awareness of biodiversity among young people. By taking these initiatives together with Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, we are proud to empower the youth of the UAE and we will continue our commitment to Be an active participant in the UAE”.
In addition to learning new skills and acquiring knowledge, other benefits of the Murshed program include the opportunity to connect with the community, get involved in the outdoors, increase environmental awareness, connect with nature, and identify career paths in the environmental field.
Following the training, participants undergo a comprehensive field assessment before being awarded badges and appointed as junior rangers. Assessment protocols will include shadow sessions, exercises with peers, leader feedback sessions, and confirmation by trainers and EAD staff that participants have met all requirements and standards.
Graduate rangers will commit to dedicated volunteer time mentoring young students around Al Wathba. These guided tours will be based on the EAD’s visiting school group schedule and will help reinforce the Abu Dhabi Government’s stated goal of providing more volunteering opportunities.
Participants’ volunteer hours will be recorded and upon successful completion of all training sessions, participants will receive a certificate of achievement. Once participants are assessed to have successfully completed their practice tour, they will receive a uniform vest and eco-ranger badge.
Other opportunities for recognition include credit towards Murshed Ecological Ranger training, invitations to networking events and stakeholder-organised adventures. In addition, the program identifies key professional and academic opportunities to help students grow and continue the program year-over-year as mentors and/or participants.
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