Today's Edition
ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
As global leaders are preparing to grapple with the most pressing environmental challenges of our time at COP28, Abu Dhabi-based Mamoura British Academy is making sustainable waves of its own.
What sets the school apart is its hands-on approach to incorporating sustainability into everyday learning. It all started with small-scale recycling projects but has since grown into a range of creative initiatives. Students now run competitions to cut their carbon footprints, plant trees, and manage aeroponic gardens, learning about sustainable food practices while reducing waste.
In an interview with Aletihad, Sarah Weaver, the school’s principal, explained that the students are at the forefront of the sustainable revolution.
“It has been very student-driven”, Weaver said, explaining that the students themselves, driven by their deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, were largely pushing the school’s programmes forward with their ideas.
As one of the top three contenders nominated for the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action, Mamoura is not only setting benchmarks in education, but is also sending a powerful message - every institution, big or small, can play a role in shaping our planet’s future.
“We have been shaping the school around the students’ passion and their desire to drive sustainability. And now, sustainability permeates everything we do,” she added.
The students' dedication resulted in an opportunity allowing them to contribute their ideas to the world's largest climate summit, thanks to a collaboration with the COP28 Youth Advisory Panel.
According to Weaver, these projects help students build skills in leadership, organisation, communication, and teamwork, ultimately preparing them to be future changemakers.
“From nursery to year nine, students work with at least one sustainable business partner,” she revealed.
The sustainability curriculum is not just a matter of learning - Mamoura is all about practical application. Efforts such as net-zero plastics, growing produce in aeroponic gardens for the school cafe, or designing corridors that double as green spaces, all feature students at the helm, Weaver said.
The school also engages with the broader UAE community. From supporting turtle rehabilitation at the National Aquarium to planting mangroves with local organisations, Mamoura students are learning to be active environmental stewards.
While most student initiatives are locally focused, Weaver explained that the drive towards sustainability and action is not confined to only Abu Dhabi, or even the UAE. The academy also actively seeks out collaborations with international institutions, enabling students to come together on a global scale.
Mamoura's approach is also inspiring students to seek career paths related to sustainability and environmental conservation.
“One of the girls I recently spoke to said that, as a result of all the school’s activities, she is now actually looking at degrees linked to sustainability,” she said.
As COP28 pushes for global reform, Abu Dhabi’s Mamoura British Academy demonstrates a glimpse of what is achievable at the grassroots level, with youth at the forefront, leading the march towards a sustainable tomorrow.
“It is essential to teach the students to be passionate about change, drive it, and understand why it is important,” Weaver said.
“We want them to go out there and do it, not just talk about it. They should make the change, make the difference, and understand that small actions can really play a big part in big change,” she added.
