UNESCO Joins Hands With Ford Motor Company to Drive Awareness of Conservation and Environmental Grants

·Entries now open for 2011 Ford Grants offering funding for local environmental groups

·A total of US$100,000 available for grass roots green initiatives in GCC and Levant

·  US$1.1million granted to 130+ local environmental initiatives across the GCC and Levant countries since 2000

ECO-School Program LAUNCHED!

UNESCO Doha, in partnership with Doha Bank, launched a one of a kind ECO-School programme for Qatar.  It offers a framework for innovation and public participation in tackling common environmental challenges.

The first year uptake is being limited to 50 schools, and we invite all those who are interested to sign up:  www.ecoschools.com.qa

In the meantime, also look at our poster, we are having a competition until the 24th of March to get our Logo designed, and we welcome everyone to take part!

Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in support of Cultural Rapprochement & Biodiversity

UNESCO had a very strong presence during this event, based on the request and generosity of the Omani hosts. UNESCO’s Director General gave a presentation in the opening ceremony. Numerous staff from headquarters was present, and all of them actively participated with oral contributions. The uniqueness of this event was to support biodiversity conservation with the involvement of cultural rapprochement, especially young people, as well as via education for sustainable development.

Message from Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, 21 February 2011

 All languages are linked through their origins and borrowing, but each is a unique source of meaning for understanding, writing and expressing reality. Mother languages are special in providing the material with which the world is first voiced, the lens through which it is first understood. International Mother Language Day is a moment to recognize their importance and to mobilise for multilingualism and linguistic diversity.