Terra’s New UAE Project Wants Teens To Save Family Nature Traditions & Document Plant Heritage

The idea is surprisingly simple. Talk to parents, grandparents or older relatives. Ask questions and film the conversations. Then preserve those stories for future generations instead of letting them fade away. The initiative is open to students aged 14 and above from every nationality living in the UAE.

And importantly, the stories do not have to focus only on plants from the UAE. Families can share memories tied to plants from anywhere in the world.

Students Are Being Asked To Speak With Older Generations

For many households, that could mean conversations about herbs used in home remedies, foods connected to childhood memories or plants people grew back in their home countries long before moving to Dubai.

Some stories may sound small at first. But those are often the ones people end up missing most later on. Also, there’s something very different about hearing these things directly from grandparents instead of reading them online.

Terra Wants These Stories To Become Part Of A Bigger Archive

Selected student films will later be shown during a special event at Terra. But the project goes beyond one event.

All submissions will eventually become part of Terra’s longer-term programmes, exhibitions and digital platforms. The goal is to slowly build a growing collection of cultural and environmental memories connected to plants and family traditions across the UAE.

Officials say the initiative fits into wider efforts to highlight native and culturally important plant species through Terra’s landscapes and educational work. That includes plants many residents already recognise, like miswak, which has traditionally been used as a natural toothbrush for generations.

Also Read: Expo City Dubai’s Terra Unveils 1-Year Nature Membership With Workshops, Expert Sessions & More

People Often Forget Plants Carry Memories Too

The project also touches on ethnobotany, basically the relationship between people and plants.

Sounds academic at first. But honestly, most families already live it without realising. Plants show up in recipes, healing traditions, religious customs and even childhood habits people carry for decades. A certain smell or leaf can instantly remind someone of home.

That said, younger generations are growing up differently now. Faster lives. More screens. Less time spent hearing family stories face-to-face. Which is probably why projects like this are starting to matter more.

The deadline for submissions is 12 June 2026, and entries must be uploaded by a parent or teacher.

Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied

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