ShareKUWAIT: Since its establishment in 2017, the Shamiya Greenhouse — a volunteer-based community project — has been planting the seeds of environmental awareness in Kuwait with the support of the country’s Public Authority for Youth, reminding people that addressing climate change is a responsibility shared by every individual, especially the younger generations.
“If we don’t change our mindsets and understand the importance of every tree, with its nutritional, medicinal, and shading benefits, then the nation will never move forward,” said Adiba Al-Fahad, one of the founders of the Shamiya Greenhouse, during a “Come Plant with Us” event held by the Canadian embassy at the greenhouse. The event is a way to “raise awareness and express gratitude for the environment we cherish,” said Aliya Mawani, the Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait.
Fahad, who founded the natural reserve project alongside Noha Al-Kharafi and Mazna Al-Mutairi, emphasized the importance of environmental awareness in society. “Even the government’s environmental sustainability policies will never be achieved if society continues to be destructive towards nature,” she said, referring to the widespread abuse of public parks in the country.
Supporting the government’s policies
This is where the Shamiya greenhouse plays a crucial role, as Fahad reflected its importance in gathering environmental activists and volunteer groups from all walks of life. She expressed her aim to “bring the volunteering community together to support the state in implementing its policies for a better future for our children.”
As the reserve promotes the use of recycled materials and the elimination of waste, Fahad highlighted the need for changing our consumption habits in all aspects of life — water, electricity, and food usage. “We need to look back at our ancestors’ way of life, when they naturally practiced zero waste simply because they truly valued what they had,” she stated.
This is what she believes we must instill in our children today. “We are witnessing the emergence of generations who do not understand the value of our vital resources.” Therefore, as an example Fahad called for integrating the history of water in Kuwait to educational curriculums. “How can a child grasp the importance of water if they don’t know that their ancestors dreamed of it as they experienced thirst?”
Entesar Taqi, Head of the Capital Governorate Centers at the Public Authority for Youth, highlighted the government’s responsibility to raise awareness about environmental conservation and provide the spaces that residents need to develop these ideas. “After all, we live on one planet, and anything we do for the environment, good or bad, will eventually affect us and future generations.”
A paradise in the desert
She described Shamiya greenhouse as “a paradise in the middle of the desert,” expressing the authority’s belief in the project since the beginning. “The authority supported the project by providing land and water,” she said. “But with the founders’ passion, they transformed the area into a space that everyone loves to visit, including schools and external organizations.”
She added that the authority aims to instill a culture of change, environmental preservation, and pollution reduction through various workshops led by Fahad every Saturday from 10 am to 1:30 pm at the greenhouse. “These workshops cover various topics, such as recycling, agriculture, and environmental conservation,” Taqi noted. Canadian Ambassador Mawani said she believes starting with children is an effective approach to fostering environmental consciousness, as they can influence their parents and communities, eventually spreading public awareness.
Teach them young
“Kids are like sponges, constantly absorbing information. They are very thoughtful and aware, understanding that the environment is in trouble and that this will affect their lives in a very real way,” she remarked. “What we are trying to do is get them engaged and help them feel useful without scaring them. It’s about finding that important balance.”
Ameera Alhassan, Kuwait Country Programme Manager for UN-Habitat, which has participated in this event and planting initiatives for the past six years, called for the urgent need to reintroduce these initiatives to combat climate change, particularly concerning precipitation. She explained that rainfall has been declining over the past two decades, leading to a rise in temperature just like in many other countries around the world. “As temperatures increase, plants adapted to specific climates are at risk of fading and dying,” she said. She also highlighted the importance of raising awareness about using water wisely and utilizing technology to implement sustainable agriculture techniques.
