RECYCLING leftover bread to support scholarships for disadvantaged young people and refugees has led to a North-East student being presented with an international award by the ruler of Dubai.

Abedalrahman Al-Zghoul, who is studying for an MBA at the University of Sunderland, has been recognised for his innovative ‘Bread for Education’ project.

The initiative, founded in 2013 by Abedalrahman, takes bread leftovers from hotels, restaurants and schools, and turns it into healthy feed for livestock sold to farmers and traders.

The money from the dry bread is then used to provide scholarships for underprivileged students and refugees.

The 28-year-old, from Jordan, said: “This is the first Jordanian-Arab initiative based on spreading the concepts of recycling, starting with bread, because of its symbolism and association with the conscience of the people as a basic material in every Arab house.

“It also places greater responsibility on us to serve the community and the environment and to create a generation that believes in the importance of recycling.”

Bread for Education trained 17,500 students in recycling, collected more than 10,000 tons of bread scraps, and provided 1,200 scholarships to students in Jordan as well as refugees.

It also allocated 1,200 boxes to collect the remains of bread, offering job opportunities for young people.

Mr Al-Zghoul was given the Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders in the Community Entrepreneurship Initiative Category by the Sheikh himself at a recent ceremony.