Riffa Views TV: Episode 24 – You Can Make a Difference

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As nature and the environment are intrinsic values to Riffa Views Signature Estates, sponsoring the Bahrain International Garden Show (BIGS) was a logical choice.

Since the initial sponsorship in 2007 Riffa Views and the BIGS Committee have worked closely together to develop the show.

The introduction of leading names, such as Gardening expert and BBC TV Presenter, Chris Beardshaw; the launch of satellite activities, such as the Eden Challenge; the marked appreciation and support for local culture, through the showcase of local Arts and Crafts in 2008 and the Farmers Market in 2009, are just some of the things that worked towards putting BIGS on the gardening show map.

Three years ago Riffa Views made a commitment to work with the BIGS committee to take the show to the next level, for it to be on par with other international shows. Now, three years on, the hard work has paid off and BIGS is on the exhibition calendar as the ‘must see’ Middle East gardening event for experts, exhibitors and enthusiasts alike.

Riffa Views TV: The Eden Challenge Story

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Riffa Views have always tried to extend and expand their relationships with the community of Bahrain and have chosen sport, youth and education as their way of achieving that vision. Riffa Views felt that through the association with the Bahrain International Garden Show we could reach out and offer more to the community. They therefore proposed to create a challenge through the schools of Bahrain that would increase the awareness of the children to the natural environment and not only demonstrate how important it is to all of us, but how much fun environmental projects can be.

Riffa Views enlisted the full support of the Office of Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, along with the organizing committee of the Bahrain International Garden Show and the Ministry of Education. And so, the Eden Challenge was born.

The Eden Challenge aim is to inspire, educate and encourage children to develop an understanding of their environment.

Throughout the Challenge, the students had to demonstrate creativity, imagination and an awareness of environmental issues

The Eden Challenge has developed far beyond what Riffa Views envisaged when developing the idea. The number of schools participating and the efforts shown by the quality of the entries demonstrates the next generations’ enthusiasm and dedication to the environment. It also confirms that committed investment by corporate bodies in children provides sustainable, tangible results and assists in protecting their future.

“The Challenge lives on, and a reminder of the time, effort and dedication and fun of this experience remains with each school to let those generations that follow realize that their environment is better because of the understanding and awareness of the school children before them” said Richard Browning, Riffa Views CEO.

Riffa Views Announce 2009 Awards at RVBIGS

Using the backdrop of the Riffa Views Eden Challenge Exhibits Stand, Riffa Views announced the award winners of their competitions around the Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show 2009 (RVBIGS 09) – the Overall Winning School of the Riffa Views Eden Challenge 2009 and the exhibitor with the ‘Best Stand of RVBIGS 09’.

The Overall Winning School of Riffa Views Eden Challenge 2009, chosen from the four category winning entries displayed on the stand and announced by Chris Beardshaw, Riffa Views Ambassador for Landscapes and Gardens, and Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al-Khalifa, Director of the BIGS Organising Committee, was The Khawla Secondary Girls School.

The Khawla Secondary Girls School project presented a Water Conscious Garden. The winning Water Conscious Garden depicts a wide range of the complex possibilities that a designed landscape can offer. Using the Riffa Views Eden Challenge logo as a base, the winning design blends water with drought tolerant plants and synthetic materials to highlight the principles and use of water movement and water conservation.

In making the announcement, Chris Beardshaw commented on how difficult the task of choosing an overall winning school had been, “The standard of all the schools’ entries this year and in particular the four category winners has been tremendously high; to choose a ‘champion of champions’ has been incredibly hard. I am extremely encouraged by the focus that the students placed on environmental issues and delighted that the Riffa Views Eden Challenge has inspired Bahrain’s younger generation to consider the importance of their surroundings. I am very comfortable that the kingdom is heading in the right environmental direction.”

Highlighting the winning entry from The Khawla Secondary Girls School, he said “The Khawla project captured the real spirit of the Eden Challenge through the efforts, enthusiasm and dedication of the students and staff. It demonstrated a diversity of ideas and initiatives around the Show’s theme of ‘Water for Life’ and a capability to be expanded and developed into a wider concept that could truly benefit the island’s community.”

The Principal of The Khawla Secondary Girls School, Mrs Seham Al Kooheji, along with students and supervising teachers from the project team were on the Eden Challenge Exhibits Stand to hear the announcement and were thrilled to go up to receive their trophy and the award of BD3,000 towards the school’s environmental activities.

Mrs Al Kooheji said “We had great faith in our Eden Challenge team and the exceptional work of the students, we are all very proud to have won the competition. We would like to thank Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, wife of the King of Bahrain for her support of the Show and Riffa Views, in particular the Riffa Views Eden Challenge Team, for giving us this opportunity. We want to compete again next year as we believe the competition teaches the students a lot about creativity and teamwork.”

Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views, congratulated not only the winning school, but also the other three category winners and all the schools who took part in this year’s competition. He said “The Eden Challenge has developed far beyond what we envisaged; we are delighted by the number of schools that have taken part and the wonderful job that all the schools have done, as demonstrated by the quality of the four category winners. Well done and a very big thank you to all involved and in particular, The Khawla School for being chosen as the Overall Winner.”

Chris Beardshaw and Shaikha Maram also announced the winners of the Riffa Views’ ‘Best Stand of RVBIGS 09’ awards. Much coveted by all exhibitors, this year’s top award has gone to Jannusan Exotics, who received a trophy and a prize of USD5,000. The 1st Runner-Up was the Bahrain Ministry of Municipalities’ Affairs & Agriculture, who received a trophy and a prize of USD3,000; the 2nd Runner-up was The Riffa Views Farmers Market, who received a trophy and a prize of USD2,000, which Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views confirmed, will be donated to charity.

Jannusan Exotics is a nursery based in Bahrain, supplying plants, trees, pots and other garden decorations from all over the world. Commenting on the winning stand, Chris Beardshaw said, “The Jannusan stand is very innovative in design style and in many ways, presents a ‘brave’ new concept. It displays a non-traditional, very contemporary approach that sets a new benchmark for future exhibits and is very much part of the process by which the Show will continue to develop on the international stage. The winning stand is certainly one that I could see having a rightful place at any of the big shows such as The Chelsea Flower Show.”

Commenting on the award, Richard Browning said “In working with the BIGS Organising Committee, it has always been one of our joint aims to raise the profile of BIGS. Encouraging exhibitors to participate and to participate at an increasingly higher standard of exhibit through an award such as this is an important part of having brought that aim to reality, which is evidenced by the obvious level of expertise and effort that has gone into the stands at this year’s Show.”

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