Syrian student qualified to be representative for UN SDGs for sustainable Oceans
With the aim of involving young people in protecting our planets, the “Blue Ocean” conference was open to all students aged 10-23 years from all over world to focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 12, 13, 14.
The conference included the initiative of Suchana 2.0, which was launched online on the 8th of June under the theme “An Innovation for Sustainable Oceans”. It was designed to foster students to tackle world challenges, particularly in relation to the oceans, marine plastic pollution effects and climate changes.
It inspires young people to improve their critical thinking, research skills, creativity, writing, and oral communication skills, and enhances their knowledge and awareness of climate change, ocean pollution, etc.
This virtual event offers a unique platform as it brings together environment conservation experts, thought leaders, and students from all over the globe to engage in meaningful discussions and share ideas on how to protect the oceans and life in its depth.
Students and teachers from Syria, India, Colombia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Moldova and Indonesia took part in the event.
“6 Students from the Center for Applied Physics and Basic Sciences in Lattakia city took part where 4 students from Syria won. One male student from the first category plus three female students from the second category: Sarah Naddaf, Sham Jamous and Batoul Haider,” the supervisor of the students Badreya Al-Taamori told Syria Times e-newspaper.
She added that the the12-year-old student, Zeen Al-Abdeen Saleh, is highly qualified to be world representative for SDGs supported by UNESCO after the winning of his research in the competition.
“The research of Saleh dealt with the impact of deforestation on oceans and on climate change and animals extinction. He presented several solutions such as: green roof, vertical farming, and the establishment of natural reserves…Some of these solutions can be applied either individually or collectively with the support of governmental and private associations and institutions,” the supervisor clarified.
She went on to say: “What distinguished Zeen Al-Abdeen was his online meeting in English with the world arbitrators, whose arbitration relied on the student’s self-confidence and ability to dialogue as well as body language.
Al-Taamori indicated that the participating students were divided into two age groups from 10-12 years and from 13-17 years.
“The winning students will follow a free training course on mass communication, interview skills, presentation skills, and how to use the media in a positive way as well as their social role in highlighting the phenomenon of climate change and the disasters resulting from it, and their participation in activities organized by the Suchana Foundation to support these goals globally. This initiative has been submitted to UNESCO and is awaiting official approval, so that our students will be global representatives accredited by UNESCO for the above mentioned goals,” the supervisor said.
Since 2018, Al-Taamori has been working with her students in supporting the goals of sustainable development.
She concluded by saying: “I have participated with my students in many global projects and virtual meetings, and I have won several awards, including the Golden Award for Global Sustainability and the Bronze Award from the Arab Programming Week supported by ALECSO, and the title of Coordinator and Facilitator of the Global Climate Action Project And the global climate champion, in addition to receiving the award for the best global teacher for the year 2021-2023.”
Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour