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Bahrain's schoolchildren will once again have the opportunity to improve their appreciation and knowledge of the environment by taking part in the Riffa Views Eden Challenge 2009.
The initiative is set to provide them with a fun way of developing a deeper understanding of their natural surroundings and follows the success of this year's challenge.
Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views Signature Estates, said: "When we created the Eden Challenge, we saw it as an innovative means of extending our involvement with The Bahrain International Garden Show to the island's younger generation.
"To be honest, we were not quite sure of the reception it would get - to say that it surpassed all of our expectations would be a real understatement.
"We all want to build on its success and I look forward to Bahrain's schoolchildren taking on the Eden Challenge for 2009."
The central theme for the next Riffa Views-sponsored Bahrain International Garden Show will be 'Water for Life' and it will be designed to encourage children to consider the relevance and importance of water in all its multiple facets and aspects.
All schools in Bahrain will be entitled to enter The Eden Challenge 2009, with four different age categories - six to nine years; 10 to 12 years; 13 to 15 years and 16 to 18 years.
Each age category will be asked to prepare and present projects based on the 'water' theme in a particular format. These formats range from water sculptures or models for the junior primary schools, water mosaics for the primary schools, water mobiles for the intermediate schools and water conscious gardens for the secondary schools.
Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, head of the Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show 2009 Committee, said: "The Eden Challenge plants the seed of the love of gardening and appreciation for nature and its resources in the hearts of our children. It is true to the spirit and aims of the show."
Entries will be reviewed and discussed in detail by the same team of independent and experienced judges that awarded the Eden Challenge 2008 prizes - Shaikha Muneera bint Ahmed Al Khalifa, Zuhair Hameed Al Dullal, Matthew Rushton and its chairman, Chris Beardshaw, BBC's 'Flying Gardener' and Riffa Views' International Ambassador, Landscape and Gardens.
Mr Beardshaw said: "The standard of the entries for The Eden Challenge 2008 was tremendously high and the judging process was extremely difficult. All the entries demonstrated the importance and relevance gardens have on our personal enjoyment, family life, sustainability and, of course, the educational system."
The category winners will once again have the opportunity to see a real life version of their project created and displayed by Riffa Views Signature Estates at the garden show.
They will also claim a monetary prize of BD1,000. The overall winner, which will be drawn from the four category winners, will receive a further prize of BD3,000.
All schools that enter will receive recognition. They will be awarded an Eden Challenge 2009 participation plaque for their school and a tree planted in their name in a selected public park in Bahrain.
At a launch event on Sunday the Eden Challenge 2009 T-shirt design was unveiled alongside The Eden Challenge Story Book which highlights the emotional journey of this year's event displaying the best competitors including the BD3,000 winner, Umm Salama Intermediate Girls School.
Mehnaz Abdul Hameed Bader, a teacher at the school, said: "We created a sculpture of two golden flamingos in a pond with ceramic flowers shooting out its back. Everything was hand made by the students. We all worked together to create something beautiful."
For registration forms and further information on the Eden Challenge '09 schools should contact Abeer Abdullatif on 17757999 or 39602662, or email aabdullatif@riffaviews.com. Closing date for entries is October 23.
