Reem works on a diversity of projects that serve and address both social and environmental aspects which are implemented on a voluntary basis and either self-funded or supported through partnerships and collaboration thereby encouraging the involvement of all to sow the seeds for a brighter tomorrow.
• bnature
“Resolution no 53 – We note the valuable contributions that non-governmental organisations could and do make in promoting sustainable development through their well-established and diverse experience, expertise and capacity, especially in the area of analysis, sharing of information and knowledge, promotion of dialogue and support of implementation of sustainable development.” ~ Future We Want
In line with Resolution Number 53 outlined in the “Future We Want” outcome document of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, that notes the contribution of non-governmental organisations in promoting sustainable development, Inspiring Change set out on a mission in collaboration with four Bahraini environmental enthusiast to establish Bahrain’s first consolidated environmental online platform.
Free access to data is a continuous problem that is faced by all thus, ‘bnature’ was envisioned, fuelled by the active feeling of responsibility by the founder of Inspiring Change to create a platform that brings together all aspects of environmental information for the use of all stakeholders.
This platform aims to ensure the availability of high quality and important data for all national stakeholders including the public so that it may aid in better decision making to help rehabilitate Bahrain’s environmental state through creating an environmentally aware and educated society.
Moreover, “bnature’s” mission also feeds into the efforts being made by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) through contributing towards achieving Aichi Target (1) under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020) which focuses on spreading awareness on the values of biodiversity which is key for conserving biodiversity and saving it from extinction.
Visit the bnature website: www.bnature.info
• ENO Bahrain
Environment Online – ENO is a global virtual school and network for sustainable development. The network is created through connecting actual schools that operate locally in various countries around the world. The Rio+20 conference which was held in June 2012, brought together world leaders along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, in an effort to shape the way towards reducing poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection resulting in an outcome document. Within that document, the ENO Programme was officially recognised for its commitment towards planting a 100 Million Trees worldwide by 2017.
Since 2012, schools in the ENO Programme have been successful in planting 20 million trees worldwide thus enabling students to become environmental ambassadors for their respective local communities and regions based on the themes addressed as part of their environmental lessons some of which include forests, climate change and ecological footprint. Moreover, there are over 7000 ENO schools in 147 countries.
Unfortunately, Bahrain is not on the list of countries yet who are involved in planting trees as part of the schools who have joined in to help achieve the commitments made under the UN Rio+20 document and initiative. Therefore, through the educational platform and database “bnature” in collaboration with Ms. Rasha Al Najjar, an educator and science coordinator at Al Hekma International School who became the first coordinator in Bahrain for the ENO Programme following being shortlisted for the Ambassador for the Environment Award under the Global Educational Supplies & Solutions (GESS 2016 Awards) on a regional level – decided it was time for change. Therefore, they in collaboration with the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) are working towards creating change and putting Bahrain on the list of those who shall honour the commitment made to make the planet greener, healthier and more sustainable.