The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), won first place for their water purification unit in the Carbon Ambassadors Programme 2015-2016 during the 18th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2016, which was held recently under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of DEWA.
To inspire future generations and help shape leaders of tomorrow in the field of humanitarian aid, Suqia sponsored a team from the Carbon Ambassadors Programme. The programme is launched by DEWA with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and in cooperation with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon). Suqia’s team retrofitted a 20 feet recycled shipping container, to help aid communities suffering from water scarcity. Through this project. Suqia’s team designed a water purification unit that operates using solar energy to serve the communities in Kiebra Slum, Kenya, largest urban slum in Africa. The designed system helps provide sustainable production of clean drinking water with a total capacity of 8000 gallons. The system produces daily 7.6 cubic metres, aiding more than 1500 people per day. Moreover, the discharged water from the system is used in an irrigation system on the container.
The container operates solely on solar energy, and produces 4.8 kilowatts (kWp). Both, the interior and exterior of the container make use of sustainable equipment such as LED lights, ventilation fans, PVC flooring, and heat insulated glass doors and paint. Moreover, the artwork on the exterior of the container help raise awareness on the importance of clean water and its purification process, while a video screen on display continues this awareness.
DEWA holds the Carbon Ambassadors Programme, in adherence with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Plan 2021, to make Dubai sustainable and its environmental elements clean, healthy, and sustainable; and the UAE Vision 2021, to transform the UAE into one of the best countries in the world by 2021. This also supports the National Innovation Strategy, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum once observed: “Nothing motivates an employee more than seeing the results of his own achievements.”
Suqia’s support of the Carbon Ambassadors Programme, reflects its commitment towards achieving innovative developmental projects in the humanitarian aid field, and providing a sustainable environment for generations to come. The Carbon Ambassadors are the next generation of leaders and experts who will implement ambitious national strategies and plans as well as contribute to new initiatives and programmes, to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and establish Dubai's position as a global hub for clean energy and energy efficiency,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.
Suqia is committed to achieving the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to listen to the next generation and learn their ideas, views and solutions for challenges. This will help the government provide a better environment to realise their dreams and aspirations, and enable them to play a key role in the UAE’s development. The Carbon Ambassadors programme helps involve young people in environmental and sustainability issues. This is achieved by engaging the students in activities, training courses, and workshops on sustainability, climate change, and the environment,” said Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia.
Suqia’s win is a result of its commitment towards finding the most suitable means of providing water through research and projects. The foundation has provided over 3.5 million people with water by the end of 2015. This is a result of collaboration with various regional and international scientific and charitable organisations.
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