On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the Head of the Department of Business Administration, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hawkar Qasim Pirdawood, in coordination with the Maple Tree Organization, organized a workshop in the VIP Hall at Cihan University–Erbil, with the participation of lecturers and students from the department. The workshop focused on environmental awareness and understanding the challenges and difficulties faced by environmental workers. Its main aim was to raise awareness among members of society about their responsibilities toward the environment.

Supervised by Asst. Prof. Dr. Hawkar, the workshop began with him highlighting the importance of the efforts made by environmental workers, emphasizing that every member of society should respect them and act responsibly when disposing of waste in order to protect the environment.

During the workshop, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hawkar placed special emphasis on proper waste disposal methods, particularly glass waste, as it can cause serious injuries to environmental workers. He explained that glass waste should be placed in cardboard before disposal to reduce the risk of harm.

As part of the workshop, Mr. Hakar Abdulatif, founder of the Maple Tree Organization, delivered a brief presentation on proper waste management. He explained that every household should have a waste bin, which not only helps protect the environment but also improves the appearance of the city. He also stressed the importance of placing waste in bags before disposal and separating liquid waste from solid waste, as mixing liquids with garbage increases the weight of waste bins and creates unpleasant odors.

During the workshop, a video was presented to the audience illustrating the work, efforts, and challenges faced by environmental workers. Through the video, the workers called on citizens to support them and treat them with respect.

At the end of the workshop, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hawkar, together with Mr. Hakar Abdulatif, announced a challenge in which a number of participants will work for one day in place of environmental workers. The initiative aims not only to support environmental workers but also to help participants better understand the responsibility and hard work involved in environmental protection.