Ramadan is just around the corner. The holy month is marked by several charitable initiatives which take place across the UAE, organized by government and private organizations, as well as educational institutions. Schools in the UAE often organize donation drives and other special initiatives that embody the true spirit of Ramadan – “Giving Back”.

Here’s a roundup of a few Ramadan Initiatives organized by schools across the UAE:

1. Ramadan Sharing Fridge

School: American School of Creative Science – Barsha
Date(s): May 6th – June 6th

American School of Creative Science Al Barsha will be placing a fridge outside the school fence by the security guardhouse, which is stocked daily with some food, drinks, and treats for those who need it most. The fridge can be stocked with a wide range of drinks and individually packaged food items such as laban, water, juice, milk, fresh and tinned fruit, vegetables, dates, biscuits, nuts, crisps, noodles, etc.

2. Building a Mosque (Masjid)

School: American School of Creative Science – Barsha
Date(s): May 6th – June 6th

ASCS Barsha will cooperate with Emirates Red Crescent to build a masjid in one of the countries in need of one. Those who wish to participate can donate money by dropping their envelopes in the donation box placed at the school reception. The school is aiming to raise 55,000 AED for this project.

3. Ramadan/Eid Food Bank

School: American School of Creative Science – Maliha
Date(s): 15th of Sha’ban (April 21st) to End of Ramadan/Eid al Fitr

In partnership with Emirates Red Crescent, the project aims to collect packaged foods such as canned foods, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, spices, etc. over the course of a few weeks and to later distribute these foods to the less fortunate families in the community.

Objectives:

• To instill among students the prophetic lessons of giving, and the sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate within their local and global community.
• To confer upon those in need the opportunity to live the spirit of Ramadan and Eid, as well as reaping their blessings, without having to worry about providing for their families and themselves.

4. Preparing the Breakfast of Fasting Muslims

School: American School of Creative Science – Maliha
Date(s): 15th of Sha’ban (April 21st) to End of Ramadan/Eid al Fitr

The project aims to set a day and provide breakfast for auxiliary school staff members (e.g. electricians, custodians, bus drivers) that have been observing the fast of Ramadan and set the meal for them to break their fast (Iftar) together.

Objective:

• To inspire students and encourage them to share what they have (of food, drink and other belongings) with their brothers and sisters of the community, emanating the Prophetic spirit of altruism and family.

5. Meer Ramadan

School: International School of Creative science – Muwaileh
Date(s): Beginning of Ramadan to End-Ramadan/Eid

This Ramadan initiative, in partnership with Red Crescent, aims to collect packaged foods, such as canned foods, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, spices, etc. over the course of a few weeks and to later distribute these foods to the less fortunate families in the community.

Objectives:

• To instill in our students the Prophetic lessons of giving, and the sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate within their local and global community.
• To confer upon those in need the opportunity to live the spirit of Ramadan and Eid, as well as reaping their blessings, without having to worry about providing for their families and themselves.

6. Building a Well

School: International School of Creative science – Muwaileh
Date(s):  May 6th onwards

A charitable initiative by The International School of Creative Science, Muwaileh, the Ramadan project aims to collect donations to be submitted to Sharjah Charity Association for the purpose of the “Well Project” in one of the countries in need of water (Senegal).

Objective:

• To instill among our students the Prophetic lessons of giving, and the sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate within their local and global community.

7. Saahem Initiative

School: Kings’ School Al Barsha
Date(s): May 22nd

Ramadan is a season of reflection and gratitude – some of the core values which strongly resonate with Kings’ School Al Barsha. During this month of Ramadan, Kings’ Al Barsha has teamed up with Emirates Red Crescent ‘Saahem Initiative’ and will be donating boxes of food to local labour camps.

Kings’ international perspective encourages students to embrace and respect the diverse community around them, resulting in an appreciation, tolerance and genuine understanding of world cultures. In this Year of Tolerance, they aim for their students to experience a personal connection to Ramadan, regardless of their faith and background. By joining forces with Emirates Red Crescent, the students will be responsible for donating the boxes personally to the workers. This personal touch is fundamental; so often, acts of charity can feel disconnected from those who are in need and we give without truly appreciating how we are making a difference. Instead, students will think beyond themselves and donate the boxes directly to the workers, recognising the part they have to play in this world.

As well as supporting Emirates Red Crescent, the school will have community fridges in all 3 reception areas of the school and Kings’ families will be invited to contribute donations of food and drink for the school’s support and ground staff to enjoy during the holy month.

In addition, the popular annual Iftar at the Atlantis Hotel will take place on Wednesday, 22nd May, when our school community comes together to hear children and staff perform a Quran recitation and call to prayer to signal the breaking of the day’s fast.

8. Kings’ Community Iftar

School: Kings’ Dubai
Date(s): One evening at Kings’ Dubai (date to be announced)

As we all know, Ramadan is the most special time of year for Muslims living in the UAE and around the world. Kings’ Dubai aims to create a school-wide festive atmosphere that is centred on the spirit of giving. It is important to explain to children that Ramadan is not just about fasting but also a month in which the Qur’an was revealed, a month to do good deeds and share with those less fortunate. Islamic students create videos that are viewed by the classes to explain what it feels like to fast and how their peers can support them whilst fasting.

One of the Ramadan highlights at Kings’ Dubai is the annual Iftar. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are invited to partake in the festive evening. Families bring an array of traditional culinary treats to share with all the guests. Students prepare presentations to shed some light on the blessings of Ramadan from their perspective. Every year, Kings’ Dubai focuses on a different theme, from Ramadan Around the World, the Islamic Golden Age to this year’s celebration of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As this is the Year of Tolerance, students will prepare poems, Hadith narrations, and songs, showcasing how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the most exemplary with respect to tolerance, mercy and kindness. The Kings’ Dubai Iftar is always a wonderful opportunity for our Muslim families to celebrate Ramadan with each other and their non-Muslims guests.

9. Whoever you are

School: Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba
Date(s): May 5th – June 5th
Contact details: Kate Fuller, Principal / Sarah Clarke, PA to Leadership,  KSNAS – patoleadership@kingsnas.com +71 4 237 5555

Kings’ diverse population lives and breathes ‘tolerance’ every day, as students and teachers celebrate similarities and their differences. This initiative is a way for them to come together and share what makes each of them unique.

The children at Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba will be working on a collaborative project that spans every age group over the course of the Holy Month of Ramadan, linked to The Year of Tolerance.

Inspired by the beautiful picture book ‘Whoever You Are”, written by Australian author Mem Fox, each child will go on an exploratory journey into what makes them unique. Linking home and school, the children will be tasked with finding out about the homes that their parents grew up in, their location, the style of the buildings and the surrounding areas. They will then create cityscapes and landscapes of these homes in the style of the book’s illustrator; Leslie Staub. Building on our International Day celebrations, the children will also draw self-portraits and family portraits showing themselves in traditional dress, celebrating their heritage and culture.

The children will be asked to share features of their home lives, whether this be their home languages, family traditions or ways of life. They will form a collaboration with their friends and will use these similarities and differences to rewrite their own version of Mem Fox’s iconic book in their own words.

Each group of children will thus create their own illustrated and authored book to be ‘published’. Pages from across the school will then be selected to create a Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba book, which will span our 39 nationalities and celebrate our incredible diversity, wonderful student artwork and inspirational student writing.

Kings’ will be documenting the process, as well as the final pieces in a celebration video, and hope to persuade some of our families to feature in this. The final product will be shared with the whole community.

10. DIA-Emirates hills Community Ramadan Fridge

School: Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills
Date(s): May 6th – June 6th
Contact Details: Liza Dippenaar (Service-as-Action coordinator DIA-EH) – lizad@diadubai.com

DIA-Emirates Hills decided to get involved in the Ramadan spirit and support their local mosque’s (The Greens) Ramadan fridge. The project aims to give back to their local community and the people that needs help the most.

Each day of Ramadan has been allocated to one homeroom in the secondary school. The students are encouraged to bring enough things to fill two fridges each afternoon. DIA-EH decided to support this local mosque as many day laborers frequent this mosque for prayer and evening Iftars.

As an IB school, DIA’s focus is on service learning and getting students involved in the wider community. DIA students love this initiative and hope that this initiative will lead to our own fridge for the next Ramadan.

Let us know YOUR school’s Ramadan initiatives for a chance to featured on Edarabia.com!