Over 6,000 schoolchildren from low-income families in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah will soon be smiling from ear to ear as they will be receiving school backpacks containing essential school supplies, just ahead of the new academic year.
The bags, which were packed by Dubai Cares and its team of 200 volunteers, will be distributed among students of all nationalities, from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Each of the schoolbags packed by the volunteers during the 5th edition of Volunteer Emirates on Saturday included a pencil case, notebooks, sketchbook, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, glue, colouring pencils, ruler and whiteboard pens.
The latest edition of the Volunteer Emirates, which took place in Horizon English School in Dubai, was in partnership with Al Ihsan Charity Association and was sponsored by Emirates NBD.
Shekhar Sawant, an Indian volunteer, described his experience as “humbling and heartwarming”. “It is important for all of us to look beyond our own lives, issues and concerns, and realise there are people in our society who are not as fortunate. Through our commitment and the new school supplies, we hope the students will have a good start to their next academic year.”
Following the initiative, the backpacks were handed over to Al Ihsan Charity Association, which will manage their distribution among schoolchildren from low-income families.
Commenting on the latest edition of Volunteer Emirates – which is in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2017 as the Year of Giving – Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares, said instilling the spirit of volunteering within the community is a “pivotal aspect of Dubai Cares’ work”.
“The success of this and previous editions of Volunteer Emirates demonstrates how the people of the UAE respond and commit to helping those less fortunate. By supporting Dubai Cares’ efforts today, the volunteers have helped to ensure that students from low-income families are fully equipped to learn, discover and thrive.”
Thanking them for their eagerness and commitment, he said volunteers are truly “one of our biggest assets”.
Speaking following the volunteer morning, Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, vice-chairman, Emirates NBD, said: “Emirates NBD is delighted to lend support to Dubai Cares’ Volunteer Emirates initiative in enabling needy schoolchildren. This initiative resonates strongly with our commitment to contribute positively to the UAE community and we hope that our efforts will encourage increased private sector participation in volunteering initiatives.”
Ahmed Sofa Al Zaabi, Director of Al Ihsan Charity Association, said it was “truly inspiring” to see so many different members of the UAE community share the same belief and spirit and witness how they give their time so generously to support both this initiative and the UAE’s ‘Year of Giving’.
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