University is not just about getting an education; it is an entire experience. For many students the experience is relishing the freedom that comes with university life. But for others the stress of exams and mammoth workloads is experience enough.
However, for a group of students at the American University in Dubai (AUD), giving back with skills they take for granted has become part of an experience they share with others.
Student volunteers from the AUD International Aid Association (AIA) recently teamed up with a Dubai-based initiative called Adopt-a-Camp to offer free English language classes to construction workers.
More than 30 students recently dedicated their Friday afternoons over the course of eight weeks to offer their knowledge of the English language to eager construction workers.
"English is a language spreading fast, it's the standard of business," said Philip Apaza, a volunteer student English language teacher.
"English opens up so many doors, so to be up there teaching these construction workers English, knowing it will create opportunities they may not have had otherwise is an incredible feeling," he added.
"By learning English there are other jobs they can advance to, which will allow them to send more money home to their families. Just knowing I can contribute to that is something that makes me feel good," said Apaza.
Certificates
AUD staff and students volunteering for the programme welcomed up to 40 construction workers every week. In week eight the construction workers wrote an English language test and were awarded certificates of recognition handed out and signed by Kevin Nawn, Chair of the AUD Liberal Arts department.
Faced with various levels, Kirsty Williamson, assistant English professor at AUD and head of the AIA English language classes, said the success of the courses has ensured they will be reintroduced in September and run over the course of the academic year.
"Now I've got a better understanding of what they want and need I will spend the summer planning the lessons," she added.
Sarah Ameri-Mills, President of AIA, encouraged other English speaking students and members of the public to volunteer for the next classes in September. She said an initial challenge was getting the construction workers to express what they wanted out of the learning experience.
"Maybe they don't want to learn about apples and oranges and would prefer to learn how to get directions on the road, but it was hard to gauge this because they were too shy to tell us what they wanted," said Ameri-Mills.
"Trying to get them to communicate what they want can be a little difficult, but now we've all gotten to know each other quite well," said Williamson.
"Before I was very shy to speak English but it's better now. I'm no longer shy," said Bilal Ahmad, a 25-year-old construction worker who completed the AIA English language course.
"I would like to continue learning English because I want a better job," he said. "If I improve my English I can get a better job with better pay," he added.
Confident
"I've never had an opportunity like this before," said Jackson Alexander, a 22-year-old health and safety worker who also completed the AIA English language course.
"I now feel confident in English because before I had problems speaking. I would like to continue studying English because it will improve my future," he added.
"Most people would walk past these guys on the street and not give them a second glance, but now you've got AUD students giving up their Fridays to give them one-to-one lessons," said Williamson.
Although for some of the construction workers the lessons served as a simple introduction to the English language, for others it presents a real life-changing opportunity.
"We have selected three guys who are qualified enough to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)," she said. The three men will be tutored by AUD volunteer teachers and take their tests in June.
"I've taught all over the world and these guys are good. They've got enough to immigrate to different countries, which will be truly life changing," added Williamson.
To volunteer for the American University in Dubai International Aid Association English language classes starting in September e-mail aia@myclub.aud.edu
Adopt-a-Camp
Saher Shaikh, homemaker and mother of two boys, is founder of the Dubai-based initiatives Adopt-a-Camp and Care Packages. Shaikh makes regular visits to Dubai workers' accommodation to take care of construction workers."How it works is that I adopt a workers' accommodation site and attempt to make it bedbug, cockroach and lice free and give emotional counselling to the men," said Shaikh.She has been doing this for four years and started off personally handing out hygiene packs to the construction workers which have now evolved into care packages consisting of a three-month supply of hygiene essentials for construction workers.
"I used to put in fancy shampoos and fancy talcum powders, but I learned from the men that they don't need that, they need hair lice shampoo and remedies for heat rashes," she said. Two years ago, Shaikh opened up her initiative to the community with volunteer days.
"I could only do enough for about 60 to 80 men a month with my funds and time. So I thought if I opened it up to Dubai we could help so many more men," she said."The only thing that works when you're dealing with people who are all poor and desperate is to give them things in their hands directly," she said — which is what the volunteer days are about.On days in July and August last year and February this year, members of the public joined Shaikh and her family in handing out care packages to construction workers.
"I think they deserve our respect because they show a lot of courage and dignity trying to work hard and support their families. It's not an easy choice to make and they make it," said Shaikh.She said a volunteer day is coming up this summer and encouraged people to get in touch. To volunteer your services to Adopt-a-Camp or get more information on how to help contact Saher Shaikh on 055 4296800 or email her on adoptacamp@gmail.com
University initiatives
The Canadian University in Dubai (CUD) has been involved in various community outreach initiatives such as the UAE chapter of the Make-a-Wish foundation, which raises money to grant the wishes of terminally-ill children."We are coming to the end of our academic year so we don't have anything planned in the near future," said Mary-Alison Lyman, Student services officer at CUD. However, in October CUD will kick off its outreach programmes with breast cancer awareness month.
Bake-sales and other funds raising events will take place on campus all month. To get involved e-mail studentservices@cud.ac.aeStudents at the American University in the Emirates (AUE) recently gave back by visiting the Community Centre for the Elderly in the Al Mamzar area of Dubai. Students took gifts to 30 elderly people and spent the day reading to them and playing games.
Middlesex University Dubai kicked off the year with a series of community outreach campaigns.Most notable of which was the recent Healthy Eating Campaign, where nutritionists and doctors from Dubai London Clinic spoke to students about obesity amongst youth, the dangers of smoking and healthy eating.
