The National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) announced the completion of the first phase of Tarsheed 22 (T22) Project. The project seeks to educate Qatari youths about energy conservation in a fun, engaging way using football.
The announcement was made tonight at a dinner hosted at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Energy and Industry His Excellency Dr. Mohammad bin Saleh bin Abdullah Al Sada, Minister of Education and Higher Education His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, and Mr. Abdulla Al-Malki, representative for Minister of Youth and Sports His Excellency Mr. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, KAHAMAA’s President His Excellency Eng. Essa Bin Hilal Al-Kuwari and SC Secretary General Mr. Hassan Al Thawadi as well as other dignitaries and media representatives in Qatar.
The first phase of T22 was launched in the beginning of the 2014/2015 school year at 22 primary schools in Qatar, reaching 1,500 students in communities near stadium construction sites of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. T22 targets primary school students between the ages of 6 and 12 as well as employees, parents and families using sports activities, presentation of training materials on sustainability and energy conservation, and energy monitoring in participating schools. Spark, the official animated mascot of T22, encourages children to play football and be passionate about the game. With the support of the Supreme Education Council, Tarsheed and the SC will expand the project to include all Qatari primary and secondary schools by 2022.
The results of T22’s first phase were announced during the ceremony. Thanks to energy-saving technologies and like energy-efficient light bulbs, dimmer switches and aerated faucets, the 22 schools reduced their annual consumption of electricity by 3 Gigawatt-hours and saving QR 750,000 annually. The project decreased carbon emissions by 1,600 tons per year.
The ceremony acknowledged footballers, school children and school staff for their contributions to the project. The football players Adel Lami of Al Arabi Sports Club, Hamed Ismaeel of Al Rayyan SC, Mohamed Omar of Qatar SC and Hilal Mohammad of Al Khor Sports Club received certificates of recognition for their involvement in T22.
Al Wakrah Primary School for Girls, Al Daayen Primary School for Girls and Simaisma Primary School for Boys received awards for being the most energy efficient schools to participate in T22.
Mohamed Al Obaidali of Mesaieed Primary and Intermediate School for Boys, Hessa Lahdan of Al Khor Model School for Boys and Sheikha Al Mas of Al Wakrah Primary School for Girls won the award for best school coordinators.
Alghala Al Kubaisi of Al Daayen School for Girls, Fatema Hamad Al Bakri of Al Riffa School for Girls and Abdullah Saad Al Mohannadi of Al Khor Model School for Boys won prizes for their submissions to the T22 video competition.
“We are thrilled with the first year results from T22 and excited to expand the project to additional schools. With the help of our partners, we can teach a generation of Qatari youths how to change their consumption habits and protect our precious natural resources”, said His Excellency Eng. Essa Bin Hilal Al Kuwari, KAHRAMAA President. Al Kuwari praised the cooperation between KAHRAMAA and the SC and thanked the employees of the SC and the ministries of energy, youth and sports, and education for their support of the project.”
SC Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi commented: “When we made our historic bid for the 2022 World Cup, we pledged to host a tournament free of carbon emissions. We’re delighted to use the spirit of football and sports to inspire students to save energy and help create a sustainable future”. Al Thawadi stressed that sports are key to social sustainability and a natural choice for reinforcing energy conservation efforts.
Eng. Abdul Aziz Ahmed Al Hammadi, Conservation and Energy Effiecny Department Manager at Kahramaa said “T22, is one of the projects of the National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) that focuses on raising awareness at schools and teaching new generations to adopt healthy conservation habits”. Al Hammadi said that the 3 winning schools will use a solar-powered lighting system by the end of 2016 to encourage them to set an example for conservation methods, reflecting Qatar’s National Vision for a more sustainable future and environmentally friendly society.
Last year, T22 targeted primary school students aged between 6 and 12 as well as employees, parents and families through sports activities and presentations of training materials on sustainability and energy conservation, monitoring and reporting. Every year, 22 schools will join the project, which seeks to reach out to all primary schools in Qatar by 2022.
