MUSCAT: The Global Shapers Community Muscat, in collaboration with YUZU Agriculture, hosted the Earth Guardians awards ceremony at the Intercity Hotel Muscat recently. The event celebrated the creativity and commitment of young environmental champions through an interschool sustainable scarecrow competition.
The ceremony was inaugurated by HH Sayyida Basma Al Said and attended by 130 guests, including students, parents, teachers, shapers, and partners.
Students from grades 6 to 9 showcased their innovative scarecrows, crafted from upcycled materials and integrating art and science within a circular approach, accompanied by compelling climate-themed stories.
The participating schools included The Sultan's School, A'soud Global School, Ahmad bin Majid International Private School, British School Muscat, and Al Huda Private School.
The top honours went to Team 'Pedro vs Pests' from Ahmad bin Majid International Private School, clinching first place, followed by Team 'Queen Bee' from A'soud Global School in second and Team 'The Inventors' from Ahmad bin Majid International Private School securing final spot.
Additional category recognition included Best Storyline awarded to Team 'Jackie Skellington' from The Sultan's School and Best Digital Storytelling awarded to Team 'Gambilo Family' from Ahmad bin Majid International Private School. Each winning team received monetary prizes from Green Energy Consultancy and farm boxes from YUZU, with all participants receiving sustainability kits courtesy of Be’ah.
Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Vice President, Environmental Society Oman (ESO) and Global Shaper Muscat Alumni, in her speech emphasised the importance of youth empowerment in fostering proactive resilience and impact.
Fahad Al Abri, founder of Move Green, captivated the audience with his original composition 'Matloob Lil Adala,' advocating for collective action in environmental preservation.
About the initiative, HH Sayyida said, “The dedication and creativity shown by Oman's youth truly reflect their commitment to building a more sustainable future. Congratulations to all participants and organisers for their exceptional efforts in making the world a better place.”
Samiya Sheikh, Curator & Earth Guardians Lead at GSC Muscat Hub, said that they were pleased to see the initiative sparking a grassroots movement in Oman, addressing challenges such as excessive consumption and pollution while promoting a compassionate and sustainable mindset. "We remain committed to nurturing changemakers and contributing to a greener nation, aligning with 'Oman Vision 2040' and the SDGs," she added.
Rebecca Yates, Head of Science at A'soud Global School, reflected, "The project has been the catalyst for climate change and sustainability initiatives within the school. To celebrate their achievement, the students plan to plant a tree and sell water bottles to reduce single-use plastics on campus."
Sayyid Omar Al Said, Chief Marketing Officer at YUZU Agriculture, said, “We are incredibly proud of all the students who participated. We extend our gratitude to The Global Shapers Muscat for their commitment to raising awareness about the organic movement in Oman.”
Safaa Al Azri, Earth Guardians Event Officer at GSC Muscat Hub, added, “The Earth Guardians award ceremony was a heartfelt experience for me, and I am so proud of everyone who came together to make it happen. I was filled with joy witnessing the engagement from kids, parents, and teachers, which highlighted the vital role of collective effort in protecting our planet."
The Earth Guardians initiative by the Global Shapers Muscat Hub made history as the first GCC hub and second in the MENA region to win The Climate Reality Project Challenge, supported by the World Economic Forum.
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