Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2 May 2019:  Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, honored today the winners of its Distinguished Philanthropic Award in Schools. In a ceremony held at Roda Al Murooj Downrown in Dubai, Dubai National School, Al Barsha earned the top prize for raising the highest amount of donations in support of Dubai Cares’ mission of helping children and young people in developing countries have access to quality education.

 

The other participating schools present at the ceremony were also acknowledged for their amazing efforts along with the supporting partners who continue to play a key role in making this initiative successful, namely the UAE Ministry of Education, the Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi. 

 

Speaking at the fourth annual ceremony, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said: “The Dubai Cares’ Distinguished Philanthropic Award in Schools shows that our nation’s young people are enthusiastic, creative and compassionate, and their inspiring fundraising concepts prove that.

 

Through this simple exercise, every student has contributed in a way or another in keeping underprivileged children and young people in Jordan and India in school and helping them fulfill their dreams. We are extremely grateful to the teachers and principals who have helped students in putting forward innovative and unique concepts this year, and we thank the UAE Ministry of Education, the Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, who continue to support us in hosting this initiative annually and raising awareness about the importance of providing quality education to children and young people around the world.”

 

The competition consists of two categories – the Philanthropic School Award, which was awarded to the school that has raised the most amount of funds; and the Young Philanthropists Award, was awarded to the group of students who had demonstrated the most innovative solutions to real-life scenarios faced by Syrian refugee children in Jordan. In the Philanthropic School Award category, the first, second and third place winners were Dubai National School, Al Barsha,

 

Kindergarten Starters and Swiss International Scientific School, Dubai, respectively. In the Young Philanthropists Award category, the first, second and third place winner teams in the Senior Category were from GEMS Our Own Indian School, Dubai, Ambassador School, Dubai and St. Mary’s Catholic High School, and the first, second and third place winner teams in the Junior Category were from New Delhi Private School, Sharjah, Palestine Private Academy and King’s School, Dubai respectively.

 

Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Communications Manager at Dubai Cares, said: “This year’s innovative solutions have truly impressed us at Dubai Cares. Not only did they show creativity and clarity of thought, but they also demonstrated, teamwork and altruism at the same level as their creative and academic talent. Every student who took part chose to use his or her abilities to help peers around the world, peers they have never met who live in places they may never go. Now, through their efforts, vulnerable people can find hope and prosperity in their lives, thanks to a brighter pathway to schooling.”

 

Dubai Cares launched the Dubai Cares Distinguished Philanthropic Award in Schools in 2015 to encourage students from UAE-based public and private schools to devise and put into action innovative and effective fundraising concepts that support the provision of quality education to children in developing countries.