By Ashwatha Mahesh

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

—Benjamin Franklin

This quote was reflected during the recent Recycling Art Event that AUS Sustainability conducted for children in the American University of Sharjah community. Not only did the children use their creative talents in creating artwork from waste materials, they learned an important lesson in sustainability.

As stated in our Environmental Policy, American University of Sharjah aims to deliver excellent education and research in a sustainable manner. However, our sustainability efforts are not limited to engaging our students but are integrated through a widespread approach of actively involving the whole community. We understand the importance of building a strong foundation of environmental awareness at an early age. With that purpose in mind, the Sustainability division in collaboration with the university’s Wellness Program organized the Recycling Art Event.  

During the event, excited faces of AUS community children greeted staff at the Epicenter, the on-campus children’s center. Equipped with their personal collection of waste materials for the event, youngsters of all ages were enthusiastically engaged in creating useful items from everyday household waste items. This instills the behavior of recycling and reusing day-to-day materials from a young age.

Armed with colorful recycled paper and stationary, the children creatively transformed waste materials and learned the importance of reuse by turning cardboard boxes into dollhouses, and Pokémon cardholders and soft drink bottles into rockets, among other creations.

As a reward for their participation, the children were given plant seeds in colorful miniature pots to inspirit responsible care towards the environment.  

AUS strongly believes in creating a wholesome sustainable community by helping the next generation to become caring, environmentally aware and creative individuals. Keep tuned for more such exciting sustainability activities around campus.  

Ashwatha Mahesh is a Part-Time Administrative Coordinator at the Sustainability division of the American University of Sharjah.

Visit www.aus.edu for more information about American University of Sharjah.