School students in Oman implement project to produce food, cosmetics from date seeds

Muscat: School students of Imam Muhammad bin Ismail Al Hadari School in the Wilayat of Bahla, Al-Dakhiliyah Governorate have implemented a (Nawat) project to recycle date seeds, manufacture healthy food products, cosmetics and other products, as well as recycle palm tree waste by turning it into organic fertilizer.

Ahmed bin Muhammad Al Maadi, the project supervisor, explained that the idea of the project came as a result of the large presence of tree waste in the surrounding environment and its damages, and the lack of awareness about how to dispose of it in a safe manner and make optimal use of it. The project came to find a solution to the problem through the recycling of agricultural waste.

He added that the project aims to spread the culture of the green economy in the local and school community, encourage and train students to adopt projects concerned with issues of the environment, the recycling economy and sustainability, and strengthen community partnership between the school and local community institutions by supporting the project financially and morally.

In addition to spreading the culture of healthy consumption and the replacement of harmful industrial products to beneficial natural products, it aims to help and train students to build their projects to keep pace with economic changes, and promote the principle of student initiatives in areas of entrepreneurship.

He explained that the project's message "focuses on creating a waste-free school environment in partnership with the local community in order to achieve sustainable development and raise awareness in the community of the importance of waste and agricultural waste."

Additionally, he emphasized the support provided by the school, whether financially or morally, during the implementation of sustainable projects in the school in general. In the project, the school administration prepared a hall to hold an exhibition for the project, prepared the necessary workshops for students, and provided the necessary facilities for the success of the project.

He also indicated that parents of students, civil teams and civil society organizations have a prominent role in supporting the project team, by contributing to the transfer of waste from farms and valleys to the school, cooperating in preparing and equipping landfills, and training students in the field of recycling palm waste, as well as in the work of implementing the project inside the school, spreading awareness in the community, and organizing camps.