Where challenge ignites innovation and students step into their power as Kuwait’s environmental leaders.
Where challenge ignites innovation and students step into their power as Kuwait’s environmental leaders.
Protecting
what protects us
Kuwait’s coastline stretches nearly 500 kilometers, a rich ecosystem vital to our nation’s health and identity.
But it faces growing threats from erosion and human activity.
This year, EcoCitizens challenges students to design, construct, and test a model breakwater – an innovative structure that protects our shores and preserves marine life.
Through science, creativity, and collaboration, students explore what it truly means to care for the land and sea that sustain us all.
About the Initiative
EcoCitizens is an initiative by Alnowair, in partnership with Dr. Bassam Shuhaibar (Dr. Buzz) and supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kuwait.
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We inspire and engage high school students across Kuwait to explore, understand, and tackle real environmental challenges Kuwait faces through creativity, teamwork, and innovation.
Blending STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) with hands-on learning, EcoCitizens is a year-long experience that empowers youth to think critically, act responsibly, and lead change within their schools and communities.
Our Purpose
EcoCitizens builds on Alnowair’s mission of inspiring positive behavioral change in Kuwait.
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The initiative empowers young people to:
• Think creatively about Kuwait’s environmental future
• Collaborate to design real-life solutions.
• Lead by example, inspiring peers and families to live more sustainably.
By connecting education with real impact, EcoCitizens shapes not only stronger students but conscious citizens.
Our Funding Partners
EcoCitizens is proudly supported by The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kuwait, whose commitment to sustainability, education, and youth empowerment in Kuwait is truly admirable. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to H.E the Ambassador and the Embassy team for their trust and support.
EcoCitizens is also proudly supported by Shell Kuwait, whose long-standing commitment to innovation, responsible energy practices, and community development continues to create meaningful impact in Kuwait. We are deeply grateful to Shell Kuwait for investing in the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers shaping a more sustainable future for our communities.
Our Roadmap
EcoCitizens unfolds through seven interactive phases, each designed to immerse students deeper into science, sustainability, and leadership:
Meet the Minds Behind EcoCitizens
Her Highness Sheikha Intisar AlSabah
Chairwoman
A visionary leader and advocate for positive transformation, Her Highness Sheikha Intisar AlSabah stands at the forefront of Kuwait’s movement toward a more empowered, compassionate, and future-ready society.
Through her pioneering non-profit Alnowair, Her Highness integrates the science of positive psychology with purpose-driven education, building human capital and nurturing a culture of self-empowerment, resilience, and growth among Kuwait’s youth.
Dr. Bassam Shuhaibar (Dr. Buzz)
Initiative Director
Dr. Bassam Shuhaibar, aka Dr. Buzz is one of Kuwait’s most inspiring champions of STEAM education and environmental innovation.
Embodying the perfect balance of intellect and creativity he makes learning unforgettable.
With a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from George Washington University and decades at KISR, he has dedicated his career to connecting research, education, and community impact.
Beloved by students and professionals alike, Dr. Buzz genius lies in making complex ideas simple, exciting, and meaningful igniting curiosity and confidence in every learner he meets.
Through EcoCitizens, he channels this unique blend of intellect and inspiration to empower Kuwait’s youth to think boldly, create fearlessly, and protect their environment with purpose.
Dr. Qusaie Karam
Science and Research Director
With over 20 years of experience at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Dr. Karam is one of Kuwait’s foremost marine and environmental scientists.
His expertise in aquatic ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring ensures the scientific depth and rigor that shape Eco Citizens’ learning experiences.
Dr. Alanoud Al-Ragum
Educational Partnership Director
A coastal engineer and researcher at KISR, Dr. Al-Ragum specializes in climate change adaptation and coastal zone management.
She brings deep local insight and global perspective, guiding the initiative’s educational content and school collaborations with exceptional precision and purpose.
Eng. Altaf Taqi
Technical Mentorship Director
A civil engineer and marine research specialist, Eng. Taqi bridges science with practice.
Her ability to make technical learning approachable inspires students to think like engineers -creative problem-solvers building solutions for real environmental challenges.
Eng. Faris Al-Amer
Technical Design & Evaluation Director
Part of KISR’s Coastal & Marine Resources Program, Eng. Al-Amer combines research, experimentation, and environmental design.
His mentorship helps students translate innovative ideas into technically sound, practical prototypes.
Mr. Mo Hedayat
Chief Communication Director
With over 17 years of experience in marketing, media, and cinematic storytelling, Mo Hedayat brings a rare blend of strategy and creativity to EcoCitizens. He leads the initiative’s communication and storytelling direction shaping every narrative, from student projects to public campaigns, into powerful stories that move people, inspire purpose, and make impact visible.
Mrs. Gaja Kruchlik
Strategy and Planning Director
As the Managing Director of Alnowair, Gaja Kruchlik is the driving force behind the organization’s strategy and innovation, designing initiatives that main purpose is to inspire positive transformation in Kuwait’s youth.
Her leadership ensures that EcoCitizens reflects Alnowair’s mission to cultivate self-empowerment, creative thinking, and meaningful social change, shaping a generation ready to lead with optimism, impact and purpose.
Mr. Ali El Chalabi
Strategy and Planning Director
As Program Director at Alnowair, Ali El Chalabi combines business acumen with creative vision driving the growth of Alnowair’s youth-based initiatives by designing initiatives that inspire young people to express, lead, and transform.
His strategic insight ensures that EcoCitizens not only educates but ignites imagination, empowering youth to see themselves as catalysts for change in their communities.
Our Impact
At EcoCitizens, we care about real impact – how much students learn, grow, and change through the experience. We track their creativity, teamwork, communication skills and environmental habits to understand how the program inspires more awareness, responsibility, and action – in schools and beyond.
Founded by HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah, Alnowair began as a simple, powerful idea: that happiness is a catalyst for real change.
EcoCitizens is the living embodiment of that idea. This is where learning becomes doing, where questions lead to innovation, and where young people don’t just dream of a better future -they build it with their own hands.
Our Impact
At EcoCitizens, we care about real impact – how much students learn, grow, and change through the experience. We track their creativity, teamwork, communication skills and environmental habits to understand how the program inspires more awareness, responsibility, and action – in schools and beyond.
Founded by HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah, Alnowair began as a simple, powerful idea: that happiness is a catalyst for real change.
EcoCitizens is the living embodiment of that idea. This is where learning becomes doing, where questions lead to innovation, and where young people don’t just dream of a better future -they build it with their own hands.
