JEDDAH: In preparation for the 39th annual Earth Day, which officially falls on Wednesday, the Saudi Environmental Society (SES) and municipal officials have organized various volunteer-based events that would help keeping the environment clean.
Ibrahim Alam, secretary-general of the SES, said the first day would mark the official opening of the assorted events, which will be followed by days of actual volunteer activities.
Alam said that his organization has gathered many volunteers from King Abdulaziz University, various schools and environment associations in Jeddah to participate in the volunteering campaign for environmental preservation.
The last day of the campaign will include lectures on solid and liquid waste in addition to some workshops on environmental protection.
Alam noted that in collaboration with the US Consulate in Jeddah, the SES has also organized a number of art and cultural contests for students, universities, the public and private sectors and various organizations in order to allow the public to interact with the SES and help in preserving the environment.
Contests will include poetry, writing, photography and tree planting, he said, adding that those who are interested in joining the campaign should contact the SES at 02-665-1832.
Jamal Al-Mundhiri, head of the municipality’s Friends of Jeddah Department, said the municipality would participate in the campaign with more than 450 volunteers who would contribute with 7,200 hours of work until the end of this week. He said volunteers would cover Obhur area where they would pick up waste and plant trees in various areas around the coastline.
Al-Mundhiri said his department has prepared a number of programs to drive home the importance of the issue.
