DOM environment competition launched

MUSCAT: Youth Vision launched the second edition of ‘DOM Competition’ following a successful first version last year.

Participants of the DOM Competition, which is part of BP Oman’s Social Investment Programme, will compete to develop viable projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. These ventures will help overcome environmental issues in the Sultanate in a practical, attractive and innovative manner. The challenge aims to raise youth’s awareness about environmental issues, inspiring them to render innovative solutions for preserving it.

“Through supporting the DOM Competition and other social investment programmes, we pursue to promote eco-friendly practices through proper guidance amongst the young generations of Oman. This, in turn, will instil a socio-environmental culture as well as provide skills and knowledge that can benefit societies and businesses alike,” said Shamsa Al Rawahi, BP Oman’s Social Investment Programme Officer.

The DOM Competition will unfold in four stages. In the first stage, the interested individuals must form teams of three to five members. The participants are then evaluated and shortlisted leading to the selection of 10 teams, marking the second stage.

Teams will then go through an interview round that will analyse their skills, diversity and dedication. Subsequently, six teams will proceed to the third stage during which they will be asked to provide a unique solution in the form of a product, service, application or a company, for a local environmental issue with the support of a specialised supervisor. In the final stage, teams will participate in a training forum, which

Participants of the DOM Competition will compete to develop viable projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030

will help them to develop their project and then present it to an evaluation committee.

“This year’s edition focuses on finding solutions for local environmental issues based on the 17 sustainable development goals 2030 identified by the United Nations, which was adopted by world leaders in September 2015. For DOM we have chosen clean water and sanitation issues, renewable energy, marine life, wild life and other, in contrary to the first version, which focused on the innovation of sustainable environmental projects. In addition, the time allocated for the teams to work on their projects was increased to help them develop their ideas,” said Rahma Adam, director of the DOM Competition at Youth Vision.

Through its various programmes, Youth Vision provides young Omanis with self-development skills. Furthermore, it seeks to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary social work via specialised programmes in cooperation with the public and private sector institutions.