Two GEMS Education schools, GEMS Winchester School Dubai and Jumeirah Primary School have collectively raised funds in partnership with Dubai Cares during the holy month of Ramadan. The schools independently raised over AED 300,000 for various charity programmes under the aegis of Dubai Cares.

Student, parents and the teaching community of the schools put in their best efforts to raise funds for a worthy cause. GEMS Winchester School Dubai came forward to raise much needed money for Dubai Cares ‘Education in Emergencies’ appeal and Jumeirah Primary School supported Dubai Cares ‘Adopt a School’ programme.

His Excellency, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said: “It’s wonderful to see school children so engaged with important issues such as universal access to quality education. I would like to thank the students, parents, teachers and school management of Jumeirah Primary School and GEMS Winchester School Dubai who have contributed to bringing hope in a better future for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people around the world by providing them with an opportunity to go to school and learn.”

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of Jumeirah Primary School, Dubai also hosted its 9th Annual Spring Fair, the largest charity school event in the region. This year, the PTA had chosen to support the Dubai Cares ‘Adopt a School’ programme of building a school in Jordan for Syrian refugees. This was a two-year project and the school donated AED 202,000 towards building this much-needed facility, where two hundred children will have access to education.

Rachel Higgins, Principal / CEO of GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, said: “Once again I could not be prouder of the GEMS Jumeirah Primary School family serving not only our own community but affecting the lives of others around the world. It is truly wonderful to be building our third school paid for entirely by our families through the Spring Fair. We are excited to be able to visit this school once built and to meet the children and adults who are continuing their education thanks to the efforts of our PTA. Together we can make a change and everything is possible”.

The Spring Fair was on a colossal scale, with PTA committee members working extensively with teachers and students and both small and corporate businesses. Each one of these individuals and entities shared the school’s vision and supported its work through their generous sponsorship.

Moreover, each year group of students from GEMS Winchester School Dubai were asked to choose an activity that they could run to raise funds. Some of the activities included a pyjama party, a speech choir competition, a talent show and a movie show. Key highlights included the Year 2 children putting together an implausible fashion show made of recyclable goods.

To end the fund raising for the year the school joined forces with the parents and arranged a huge Global Fair in May that attracted around 5000 parents.

Commenting on the event Matthew Lecuyer, Principal GEMS Winchester School Dubai, said: “We are proud of each and every member of our school community who have come together and have shown true charitable kindness. It is such an honour to be working and learning alongside compassionate and caring global citizens here at GEMS Winchester School Dubai. The students, families and staff have all shown true generosity in our quest to raise money for the Dubai Cares charity. Our goal of AED 80,000 was smashed as we raised over AED 103,014.25 through varying events. Student leadership and community links were at the heart of the matter, organising and running theme days, house days, book sales and of course the highly successful Spring Fair that saw over 6,000 people in attendance.”