Eleven-year-old Abdul Muqeet, a student at Abu Dhabi Indian School, says his life mission is to save the environment. His project to create carrier bags from discarded newspapers earned him the nickname Paper Bag Boy, which in turn got him a 2011 Abu Dhabi Environment Award. This pre-teen dynamo is energizing friends and strangers to work together to create a greener world.

 

He spent World Environment Day at nearby Khalidiyah Mall with a team of green-minded friends, encouraging shoppers to buy locally grown produce, reduce food waste and recycle leftovers. His campaign reflected the day’s broader theme, Think.Eat.Save.

 

Fifteen-year-old Athira (last name withheld) took a different track towards saving the environment. Fifty classmates from the Emirates Future International Academy dressed as chefs and marched at Khalidiyah and Al Wahda malls to promote a campaign against food waste. They carried placards painted with “Save. Do not waste food”, “Think Organic”, and “Eat locally produced organic vegetables” in Arabic and English.

 

The campaign was organized by social-responsibility group Nahtam, the UN Environmental Program, the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care, Abu Dhabi Municipality and LuLu Hypermarkets. The little chefs also aimed to educate emiratis on the importance of an organic lifestyle.

 

Malls across Abu Dhabi will set up greenhouses to grow a dozen healthy veggies including tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers.