Waste not want not! Students at a Bahrain school are showcasing their country’s achievements with an array of stunning models they have created using discarded materials.
Among the items are a replica of a warship and a Formula One car with front and rear wings, tyres and a polished cockpit, with a shining red exterior engulfing a huge complex engine.
Innovative students of the Isa Town Primary Intermediate Boys School have proudly displayed their creations at the school premises.
The project is the brainchild of art instructor Dr Moataz Fathy Hassan.
“I wanted students to work on an artistic project that is related to current events in Bahrain,” he said.
“We crafted a replica of a Formula 1 car as a tribute to the famous racing event. We have also designed a spaceship as the country officially sent a satellite to space last February.”
However, both the spaceship and the F1 car, alongside many other projects filling the school’s halls, have not been made with typical materials.
“The car and spaceship were built with recycled items by students whose ages range between 14 and 15,” the 51-year-old said.
“We used torn water drums as tyres and old cable wires as engine cords. We also threw in plastic bottles, air conditioner scraps and wooden pieces found on the road.
“We used oil tanks from scrapped cars, discarded fans, broken tables and chairs ... literally anything we could lay our hands on.”
The Egyptian national who arrived in Bahrain four years ago was instantly impressed by his students’ creative skills in art. However, he observed their ‘careless attitude’ towards waste, which could otherwise be put to use.
“I wanted students to see the beauty of everything around them, to see art and shapes even in the most undesirable waste,” he said.
“It could instil a sense of purpose in them and also limit the quantity of goods dumped in landfills.”
One of the students who learned from Dr Hassan’s crafts was Rayan Bin Zaiman, a seven-year-old boy who managed to fully design and build his first spaceship.
“I like space,” Rayan said. “I made the model with discarded bottles and joined them together with super glue.”
Rayan dreams of flying to space. He also hopes to become an aeronautical engineer.
“I named it Rayan 1 after Apollo 1 since it is my first spaceship,” the second grader said. “I am going to improve on it.”
Rayan’s father Ayman Bin Zaiman, a music teacher in the same school, is proud of his son’s achievement.
“Children have become more productive and motivated after the Education Ministry introduced an array of extra-curricular activities, including art and music,” Mr Zaiman told the GDN.
“Education is more activity-oriented and it invigorates young minds and brings out their talents.”
Among other creations on display are a replica of warships inspired by His Majesty King Hamad’s induction of five new frigates into Bahrain’s navy; a Dilmun-inspired bull made out of discarded gas tanks and old bike parts, and statues made out of paper boxes and shredded plastic.
“The teacher and students have changed everyone’s perspective on waste,” school principal Hussain Al A’ali told the GDN.
“It is now my responsibility to encourage these children and the teacher to follow their passion.”
Dr Hassan said he hopes to create a model of a moon and a spacecraft soon.
“I would love to see a student wear a spacesuit of their own design, and have them walk on a small cement puddle,” Dr Hassan added.
“It would be one small step for Isa Town students, and a giant leap for all Bahrain children’s dreams.”
aref@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))