Dubai: Hundreds of volunteers from all backgrounds packed 10,000 school kits for students from low-income families, under a Dubai Cares initiative yesterday.
The bags and stationery were packed by 300 volunteers at Horizon English School, for the Volunteer Emirates drive by Dubai Cares. Sponsored by retail chain Union Coop, the kits were distributed in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah for children in kindergarten through grade 12.
The school kits included essential stationery such as notebooks, sketchbooks, colour pencils, pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, white board pens, rulers and pencil cases.
The distribution of these school kits is being carried out in partnership with Gulf Model School, H.H. Shaikh Rashid Pakistani School Dubai, Radiant School Sharjah, Al Ihsan Charity Association, Al Rashidyah Private School — Ajman, and Al Salaf Al Saleh Private School — RAK.
It marked the third ‘Back to School’ edition of the initiative since 2017 by Dubai Cares, part of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.
On Saturday morning, the sports hall at Horizon school was abuzz with the noise of volunteers packing the kits. The process was organised neatly, with stations arranged for each stage of the packing.
Her Emirati colleague Mariam Al Mazem was close by, helping with the kits’ assembly. Al Mazem said: “At the Executive Council, we’ve got a volunteering initiative called ‘Day for Dubai’, launched by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Chairman of the Executive Council, who was the first to take part in it. We engage in many programmes with many organisations. This is also a Day for Dubai for us.”
Tariq Al Gurg, CEO at Dubai Cares, said: “Our goal through this initiative is to ensure that children from low-income families feel well-equipped as they return to their classrooms with all the tools required to start their new academic year on an optimistic note. We hope the children will experience the special joy of the first day back at school with new school essentials, which plays an important role in increasing confidence and happiness, as they move forward in their educational journey.
“We feel overwhelmed by the spirit of volunteerism among members of the UAE community, who sign up and turn out in huge numbers, to support our community engagement initiatives.”
Khalid Humaid Bin Diban Al Falasi, CEO of Union Coop, said: “We’re more than happy to extend our sincere support to this great initiative, which also falls in line with Union Coop’s primary directive of Community Social Responsibility. We’re sure that our efforts will definitely bring smiles to the innocent faces, who will indeed play a vital role in defining the future of our great nation.”
Aisha Al Khateri, acting director at Al Ihsan Charity Association, said: “We are grateful to Dubai Cares for partnering with us for the second consecutive year. For most students, new school kits are cause for great excitement, especially when they begin the countdown to return to school after their summer break. The complete set of high-quality stationery will enable children to commence their new academic journey with confidence and preparedness.”
Imran Waheed, principal at Shaikh Rashid Pakistani Islamia Higher School, one of the benefiting schools, said: “As our students embark upon a new academic calendar, these tools will cover their important stationery requirements essential for a positive educational experience.”
