Following the successful refurbishment of Al Bustan School in Ras Al Khaimah in the first edition of Volunteer Emirates 2014 initiative, over 130 volunteers joined Dubai Cares and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority staff for the second edition of the initiative at the Gulf Model School in Dubai to give the 32-year-old school premises an uplift.
Volunteer Emirates is part of a series of local initiatives by Dubai Cares that offer U.A.E. residents opportunities to give back to their community and support the philanthropic organisation's mission.
This second edition of Dubai Cares' Volunteer Emirates 2014 brought together individuals, academia as well as corporate volunteers in an effort to complete maintenance activities — from painting murals to assembling school furniture — to help create an ideal learning environment for students.
Commenting on the significance of this edition of Volunteer Emirates, Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive officer of Dubai Cares, said: "Volunteer Emirates reflects our work in developing countries – increasing access to quality primary education and creating the ideal learning environment for children. It is one of the key pillars through which we engage our local community here in the U.A.E., and we are always impressed by the strong presence and support we receive from the public.”
As part of this edition of Volunteer Emirates, participants refurbished and enhanced the school premises — repairing furniture, painting doors, procuring and organising playground toys, painting murals in the school hallways, assembling 30 computers and a projector, equipping the library with educational books as well as landscaping the premises with plants donated by Dubai Desert Group.
In addition, the team also prepared the Chemistry lab with scientific equipment and painted murals in the multi-function room.
"The Gulf Model School building was constructed in 1982 and there has not been much maintenance that has been undertaken since then. We are extremely grateful to Dubai Cares for asking volunteers to come into our school to boost the facility and donate useful tools including computers, lab equipment and educational facilities for our library,” said A. Najeeth, chairman, Gulf Model School.
The next edition of Volunteer Emirates 2014 is scheduled to take place during the last quarter of 2014. Residents interested to participate in the third edition can register online at http://www.dubaicares.ae.
Source: Khaleej Times