Dubai school sends 3 tonnes of relief to Kerala
dubai — While schools in the UAE are still closed for summer, a Dubai school has managed to complete a three-day donation drive for the Kerala flood victims ,sending three tonnes of relief items to them.
About 230 teachers, 49 administration staff and 200 ancillary staff of the Kindergarten Starters (KGS), Dubai, helped in purchasing and packing the relief material at the school premises during the three-day drive.
Speaking about how the drive was organised, Asha Alexander, principal of KGS, told Khaleej
“The staff members and parents were informed about the drive through SMS and circulars. All staff contributed to this drive along with a few parents and students who were present in Dubai. The remarkable resilience shown by the people of Kerala in rebuilding their state and the gestures of philanthropy by the UAE rulers and our founder, Sunny Varkey, continue to inspire us.”
Alexander added that the school
intends to begin another drive once students return to raise funds and collect items to help rebuild Kerala. “This is an opportunity for students to exercise global citizenship and support those in need. The indomitable spirit of a people in adversity is a lesson from which all of us can learn. It is something most of our students would have experienced first hand and will be able to relate to.”
Donated items were included blankets, bedsheets, clothes, soap, washing powder, toothbrush and toothpaste, candles, matchboxes, biscuits, tinned foods that are ready to eat, sanitary napkins, diapers, evaporated milk, utensils and plastic containers to store food, mosquito repellents and footwear.
Deepu, the driver of the truck that took the relief material was a Malayali. When he saw all the staff members working together to help people in Kerala, he got so emotional that he refused to take even a single penny for transporting the goods.
A foreman at KGS, Gopa Kumar, said: “The ancillary staff have always been engaged and actively participating in such charitable donations to Syria, Nepal, Philippines and other countries when there have been similar situations. We will continue to do so whenever such a situation arises as they are moved by the plight of their fellowmen in Kerala.”
One of the parents, Dr Praveen Sarojam, said: “We heard about the unfortunate flood in our homeland after returning from vacation. While watching discussions on news channels, on reconstruction and the way forward, Mayookha, my 10-year-old daughter reminded us the way her school, The Kindergarten Starters, Dubai have helped millions in Nepal, Malawi, Philippines and Myanmar over the years .The very next day we heard about the collection of relief materials being organised at the school. She suggested that we cancel our initial plan of staycation during Onam and instead utilise that amount for buying relief materials. I am extremely proud of the way her school is grooming global citizens.
This is an opportunity for students to exercise global citizenship and support those in need. The indomitable spirit of a people in adversity is a lesson from which all of us can learn.”
Asha Alexander, principal, KGS