envirofone supports education
Drop boxes at more than 400 schools across the country encourage pupils and parents to hand in unused handsets
EnviroFone, the mobile phone recycling initiative, is bringing environmental awareness into the UAE’s primary schools as education and environment join forces to boost the nationwide campaign to gather old or unused mobile phones for recycling.
The EnviroFone Schools Project has been organized with the support of Emirates Foundation who have provided significant backing for the campaign which has already gathered more than 100,000 mobile phones for recycling. Further support from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Ministry for Education has ensured each and every UAE primary school participation.
EnviroFone drop boxes will be in use at more than 400 primary schools across the country to gather unused mobile phones handed in by pupils, parents and teachers.
Added to the educational element of the campaign, there is a chance to make a contribution to protecting the UAE environment and schools and individual pupils have an opportunity to win extra incentives.
The school which collects the most mobile phones on average per pupil will win a school mini bus donated by AW Rostamani. Meanwhile, an environmental art competition for pupils will reward winners in two age categories, 4-7yrs and 8-11yrs, with prizes from HP of laptops, printers and digital cameras to be won.
EnviroFone Schools Project / 2
Volunteers from the Takatof scheme, part of Emirates Foundation, will be supporting and visiting all primary schools in the UAE to help generate interest in the competition and raise awareness of the wider issues about recycling and protecting the environment.
“Both the UAE education authority and the schools themselves have responded very positively to the campaign, recognizing that we have an excellent chance to raise awareness of environmental concerns and educate pupils about the responsibility we all share to protect our environment,” said Stuart Fleming, Managing Director of EnviroFone.
“We are looking forward to seeing the artwork we receive from the schools pupils’ competitions and think there will be some really unique environmental messages,” said Maytha Al Habsi, Communications Manager of Emirates Foundation. “This initiative brings together education, environment and charity. Our volunteers are excited about visiting the schools and helping the teachers raise awareness of such vital issues,” she added.
Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Head of Environmental Education Projects at the KHDA, said, “We are excited to support the latest initiative from the EnviroFone campaign, which has already raised awareness of vital issues in the UAE. Getting children and young people behind this campaign is an important step in ensuring the whole community understands why we need to protect our planet.”
The EnviroFone campaign, which was launched in June 2007 under the patronage of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), aims to collect 250,000 mobile phone handsets for recycling by the end of the year.
EnviroFone Schools Project / 3
Drop boxes are located at ENOC petrol stations in Dubai, all ADNOC petrol stations in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, Etisalat and du business centres, Al Rostamani currency exchange houses, Spinneys supermarkets, Magrudy’s Book Stores, Lamcy Plaza in Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Sharjah City Centre, Ajman City Centre and FedEx locations in the UAE.
