RIYADH, 25 January 2008 — In an attempt to educate youngsters on the importance of personal responsibility in environmental issues, a group of Saudi teachers at Riyadh’s No. 130 School for Girls organized an exhibition recently aimed at building community awareness of green living.

“Although there is no official memorandum from the Ministry of Education to bring to the limelight environmental issues, we do not consider it just an extracurricular activity, but rather more of a contribution to our society and, most of all, to our planet,” said the school’s principal, Basema Al-Homaidan.

Students handed out bracelets they made to the exhibition’s attendees; on them was written “Save Our Planet”.

With the help of the website by the Environmental Transport Association, an international organization founded in 1990, the school aims to educate the public on the devastation wreaked by gas-powered vehicles and how to reduce unnecessary driving.

The Internet, says Al-Homaidan, is a powerful tool for educators to put together their own informal programs.

“Surfing the Net brought me to the ETA site,” she said. “I contacted them and they were willing to send brochures and films free to aid in this mission.”

The Ministry of Education has a program to raise awareness, too, according to Maysoon Al-Soweilem, No. 130’s director of extracurricular activities. She said that last year the ministry initiated a plan to help schools organize “environmental awareness activities,” but she didn’t provide any further details.

“The schools would still act according to what they see suitable and in coordination with the core subjects,” she said. “The environment awareness activities were included in last year’s plan, along with other forms of awareness, such as personal and social safety.”

Yara, a 9-year-old 4th grader at 130 Girls, said it’s not easy to present environmental awareness to her little peers, whom she said mock her when she talks about living a greener lifestyle.

“They didn’t understand what environmental living meant, and made fun of me,” Yara said.