UAE School pupils channel their inner "Picasso" to protect the Environment

Schoolchildren throughout the UAE have been getting creative and learning about protecting the environment as part of the EnviroFone Schools Project.

Children in primary schools across the Emirates have taken part in a competition to create works of art which reflect the importance of recycling and looking after the natural beauty of the UAE.

Six children, from two different age categories, will be selected by a panel of judges to win fantastic prizes donated by HP, such as laptops, digital cameras and printers. Their schools will also win computers from HP. The competition is part of the wider initiative implemented by EnviroFone, the mobile phone recycling campaign, to increase awareness of environmental issues in schools.

The EnviroFone Schools Project was launched in November 2007 with the support of Emirates Foundation, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Ministry for Education. EnviroFone drop boxes have been installed in more than 400 schools across the UAE to encourage pupils, parents and teachers to hand in old or unused mobile phones.

In addition to the art competition prizes, the school which collects the most mobile phones on average per pupil will win a 15-seater school bus donated by AW Rostamani.

"We have been pleased to hear that school children across the UAE have expressed great enthusiasm about the art competition," said Patricia Trodd, Marketing Manager for HP Middle East.

"The children have been asked to create works of art which reflect the environment and what we can do to protect it. As we expected, they have produced some very thought-provoking paintings and we look forward to sharing the winners with the public when they are announced at the end of February."

The race is now on as schools compete to win the mini-bus and the IT equipment. The EnviroFone Schools Project will close on Thursday 28 February 2008.

- Danielle Fanning, Total Communications Dubai, also photo