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Tribune News Network
Doha
THE Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have announced the signing of a major new strategic partnership to promote environmental sustainability and healthy eating among Qatar's young people to meet the challenges of the future.
Under the new partnership, the MME will provide strategic support and expert advice to WCM-Q's flagship public health campaign, Sahtak Awalan Your Health First.
Your Health First runs Project Greenhouse, a successful initiative which has already gifted greenhouses, seeds and gardening equipment to 130 schools across Qatar to teach students how to grow a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and herbs.
With all countries across the world facing critical issues such as climate change, food security and health issues like obesity, type-2 diabetes and heart disease, Project Greenhouse is providing the future generation in Qatar with essential practical skills and knowledge to meet and overcome these challenges. The project is also teaching children to appreciate where their food comes from, the importance of eating fresh produce for good health, and valuable lessons about environmental sustainability.
Importantly, children are taking the fresh produce they have grown and these valuable lessons home with them from school, encouraging their families to eat healthily and to think about sustainability and green issues.
The MME will now provide crucial technical and scientific expertise, materials and support as Project Greenhouse expands and enters an exciting new phase and prepares for the next five years of promoting sustainability and health.
Existing greenhouses are to be expanded, more schools are to join the program and production will increase to boost the yield of important crops. The aim is for all schools across Qatar to be enrolled in Project Greenhouse, giving students the chance to both learn and contribute, creating a strong and healthy young generation able to fulfill the vision of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani.
The healthy produce grown in the schools will be offered for general sale to the community in Qatar at specially created market stalls, at good value prices, with all revenues from sales to be reinvested into Project Greenhouse to strengthen and expand the initiative.
Project Greenhouse will continue to benefit from the steadfast support it has received to date from the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Foundation (QF), commented on the partnership, saying:"We, at Qatar Foundation, are honoured to collaborate with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. We value this cooperation as, together, with all of our partners, we strive to promote the importance of food security and environmental sustainability, while, simultaneously, improving the health and wellbeing of our local community. Indeed, it is vital now more than ever that we are collectively working to invest in Qatar's future."
The new strategic partnership between the MME and the WCM-Q, a partner organisation of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will make a significant and long-lasting contribution to the goals of achieving good health, environmental sustainability and self-sufficiency, as set out in the Qatar National Vision 2030.
HE Muhammad bin Abdullah al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment, said:"This strategic partnership between the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar marks the beginning of a collaboration that will benefit all members of the community in Qatar. It is of paramount importance that young people in Qatar not only eat a healthy, balanced diet, but that they also understand how the earth provides for us all, and how we must respect, protect and sustain the environment in order to meet the challenges that the future holds. This collaboration will further those aims significantly."
HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahid al Hammadi, the Minister of Education and Higher Education, stated that human development within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to achieve a number of goals, the most important of which are to promote interest in the educational system, and improve physical and psychological health so unlocking the potential of a qualified and committed workforce."Hence, health and environmental awareness are among the basic knowledge that we are promoting among learners for the undoubtedly positive effects on man and the environment in general."
Hammadi further said:"We call on schools to further cooperate with the Your Health First campaign to educate our children about the healthy habits that can protect them from diseases and improve the prospects for a physically and psychologically healthy life."
SC Secretary General HE Hassan al Thawadi said:"We are delighted that the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has joined Your Health First as the latest strategic partner, which will further support the campaign's efforts to promote environmental sustainability amongst Qatar's youth. We are proud of our collaboration with Your Health First through our flagship CSR programme 'Generation Amazing'. This cooperation forms part of our commitment to ensure that the 2022 FIFA World Cup serves as a catalyst for development across various sectors in Qatar and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations."
