Under the theme "Do not Bin it, Donate it", Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi organised an awareness day, in collaboration with Multiply Marketing Consultancy, G Association and the Emirates Red Crescent. The event took place yesterday at the PSUAD campus on Reem Island in the presence of the university’s management, employees and students, with Samia Bouazza from Multiply Marketing Consultancy, Lina Tayara from G Association and Sultan Al Shehi from Emirates Red Crescent.

The event aimed encourage food waste reduction among the university’s students and employees, as well engage the university’s community in its #Food Not Trash initiative.

Samia Bouazza explained, "‘FoodNotTrash’ is an initiative launched by Multiply Marketing Consultancy that aims to raise awareness of food waste in the UAE and beyond. The initiative’s objective is to empower people with the knowledge to plan and buy responsibly, store food effectively, and re-use leftovers efficiently, all in an effort to drastically decrease food waste. According to official estimates, the UAE currently wastes AED15 billion worth of food every year, and we believe that every resident can make a positive contribution when given the right information and tools."

Dr. Fatima Al Shamsi, Deputy Vice Chancellor for administrative affairs at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, said, "Organising awareness and educational initiatives in collaboration with local entities is a great opportunity for our students to learn more about the importance of being an active member of the community. This awareness day highlights the importance of saving grace and empathising with people in need. We are confident that this initiative will make a positive difference among our students in the long term."

Sultan Al Shehi, Project Manager of the Saving Grace programme, said, "This programme is very successful throughout the UAE as it helps in reducing food waste and other commodities and reaches out to families in need through the redistribution of food, clothes, furniture and medicine. We encourage the students and their families to do the same and save food at their own homes."

The event kicked off with an opening speech, followed by an interactive panel discussing the #Food Not Trash initiative and Saving Grace programme. At the end, students purchased food from the cafeteria and donated half of their meal, or bought extra ones and packed them into boxes with the help of the Emirates Red Crescent, who took care of distributing the food to families in need.