The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has introduced “Environmental Eyes,” a volunteering initiative led by the youth. Embracing participants from various parts of the emirate, this program aims to foster communication and community engagement, fostering intergenerational sustainability efforts to construct a society committed to environmental responsibility.
“Environmental Eyes”: A Program for Environmental Education and Reporting, Encouraging Public Involvement, and Enhancing Understanding of Varied Environmental Domains through Volunteer Engagement
The program welcomes volunteers aged 18 and older, providing training through an online platform with a series of educational videos on environmental topics.
Upon finishing the training, volunteers will be awarded a certificate and granted access to the Sahim application, enabling them to report any identified environmental violations.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, the Secretary-General of EAD, expressed, “EAD has created the engaging Environmental Eyes volunteering program with the aim of fostering a sense of responsibility within the community towards the environment.”
“Through the initiation of this program, we urge the community to proactively document activities and violations impacting our valuable environment here in Abu Dhabi.”
“This initiative aims to increase social responsibility by directly involving the community in recognizing detrimental actions and behaviors that impact the environment, turning them into essential contributors to the preservation of our indispensable natural habitats.”
The Environmental Eyes program is part of the Sahim program, where “Sahim” translates to “contribute” in Arabic. It constitutes a thorough citizen science initiative across the UAE, enabling the public to actively engage in scientific environmental research.
The program seeks to foster a citizen-science culture in the UAE, contributing to environmental conservation research, informing decision-making processes, and shaping the development of policies and initiatives.
Accessible for download on both the Apple Store and Google Play, Sahim stands as a community-driven initiative that empowers individuals to actively contribute to creating a more sustainable environment.
This tool enables Abu Dhabi residents to assist the EAD by encouraging them to report instances of single-use plastic and waste discovered on beaches and other terrestrial locations.
