Volunteers gear up to preserve Kingdom’s heritage

Volunteers will be putting in their best efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s rich heritage as the World Heritage Volunteers 2018 (WHV) Campaign is back in its fifth edition.

The campaign is being held in coordination with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage International Volunteers. The campaign titled ‘Discover Bahrain Heritage’ is hosted by Arab House Foundation and held under the banner ‘Empowering the Commitment to the World Heritage’ in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme.

Speaking to Tribune, Mohammed Bukamal, Project Manager for WHV-Bahrain, said, “The programme will commence on November 10 at Qal’at Al Bahrain, popularly known as Bahrain Fort. It comes in line with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre’s objective of preserving and promoting world heritage sites with an aim to increase awareness and reinforce youth’s involvement at a local and global level in the implementation of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. “The Article 27 of the Convention requests States Parties to endeavor, in particular by educational programmes, to strengthen appreciation and respect of cultural and natural heritage.

The WHE Programme is also consistent with UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014– 2021, which foresees specific targeted action to be implemented in favour of youth.” “The WHV initiative intends to raise awareness among young people, volunteers, local communities and concerned authorities of the need to protect and promote World Heritage; involve young people in World Heritage preservation through concrete projects at sites and further empowering young people allowing them to learn skills in basic preservation and conservation techniques and raise their capacity as future decision-makers and global active citizens