Over 3,000 students do walkathon to spread happiness
dubai — Happiness isn’t out there, it’s within you. This was the message sent out by 3,000 students of Our Own High School Al Warqaa, as they marched around Zaabeel Park and Al Warqa’a park on Wednesday morning, to support the UAE’s Happiness initiative.
Dressed in the UAE flag colours, boys from the school enthusiastically sang happy songs and raised happy slogans at the third annual walkathon — Walk for Happiness organised by the school.
While students from grade 1 to grade 4 walked at Al Warqa park, students from grade 5 up to grade 10 went around Zaabeel Park with about 200 parents alongside — all wearing smiley badges on their shirts. The happiness walkathon was a way for the students to express their contentment, happiness and gratitude towards their parents, family, school and the government.
Grade 9 student Ashwin, who held placards with happiness and peace slogans, said: “Walking together with my whole school, I want to say happiness is what binds us together.
“Each individual has the potential to make a difference in the world and it can start with a simple smile. You never know, maybe
Walking together with my whole school, I want to say happiness is what binds us together.” Ashwin, student, Grade 9
your smile can make someone’s day and bring just a little happiness in someone’s life. I think that is real success.”
The walkathon was flagged off by principal Sanjeev Jolly, who said: “The walkathon today was an endeavour of the school to imbibe the value of humility in students by saying ‘Thank you’ to the leaders of the nation who have provided us a wonderful country, which is safe and secure.
The school believes that such endeavours will build the character of our students to be humble and kind towards others and respect them in their acts of giving and sharing.”
Aarti Kanal, Grade 6 supervisor and Peace and Happiness Champion of the school, who has been spearheading the walkathon, said: “As educationists, our greatest responsibility is to inculcate values in our students and develop in them humility, gratitude and the attitude of happiness. Every student makes a positive difference to the world. It is such a beautiful sight to see children walk in this natural environment, walking, singing and sharing happiness.
“I believe that if we are able to teach our children to appreciate and be grateful, I think we have achieved a milestone. Through such activities they are learning to grumble less, smile more. Today they walked together as one school and not only with their classmates. This feeling of oneness and unity has come out beautifully today.”
saman@khaleejtimes.com