Msheireb Properties, a leading sustainable real estate developer, has launched a campaign to mark the World Environment Day (June 5), which encourages students to donate old text books.

The Textbook Collection Drive is launched as part of an initiative in partnership with Qatar’s Supreme Education Council and Qatar Today magazine.

The project is the next phase in the Msheireb Properties’ Green Programme for Schools (GPS) Initiative, the first schools-based environmental awareness campaign in Qatar.

“The success of the Green Programme for Schools campaign has inspired a new chapter in our ongoing efforts to encourage conservation and care for the environment,” said Jawaher Al Khuzaei, communications manager of Msheireb Properties.

“The Textbook Collection Drive encourages the concept of sharing and shows students and parents alike that small lifestyle changes can have a big impact on the environment.”

The drive involves collecting old textbooks every semester at special donation centres at participating local schools. The books are then reconditioned and branded with a GPS sticker and shared with younger students as the school term restarts.

Local youth group Mission 20 will oversee the collection, sorting and branding of donated books – and brand school campuses with creative posters to further encourage the book-giving drive.

“As the developer of the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, Msheireb Downtown Doha, we’re always on the lookout for new ways to teach our youth about the importance of environmental conservation, This latest initiative is a great way to bring World Environment Day into the classroom and continue the momentum of the GPS campaign” added Al Khuzaei.

“Launch of textbook reuse project is an important step for GPS, handing down textbook not only saves trees, but also instills the important habit of sharing,” said Ravi Raman, vice president, Oryx Advertising.

“We think parents too will play a great role in the success of this initiative by resisting the urge to buy everything brand new for their children. Even a refurbished textbook serves the same purpose of educating the child, so we hope parents will actually opt for a recycled one.”

Since launching on World Environment Day last year, GPS has seen the participation of around 25,000 students. The campaign promotes environmental awareness by inviting students to share ideas and pledge commitments to cut down on waste, and to use water and electricity more efficiently. – TradeArabia News Service