DUBAI // A school in the emirate is to welcome a group of disadvantaged children from Africa as part of a cultural exchange.

The School of Research Science (SRS) in Dubai has teamed up with Barut Primary School in Nakuru, western Kenya, in an initiative that will bring five children and two teachers from the school to Dubai at the end of the month.

They will stay with the families of some of the pupils.

Children at SRS say they are looking forward to meeting their guests.

“We are going to make them feel really welcome,” said Emirati Maryam Al Hashemi, 10, who is among the pupils who will be hosting the Kenyan students at their homes during the week-long visit.

“This is the first time they will be coming to a new country, and I’m excited to show them Emirati culture and Dubai as a city.”

She said she was surprised when she was told that the school in Kenya did not have computers – or electricity.

“I want to learn about their culture and make good friends with them in the process,” Maryam said.

Her family have prepared a party for their guest, and Maryam hopes to visit Kenya to see how the school they are working with runs and operates.

“It will be a good chance for me to see and understand what life is like in other countries,” she said. “If my mum agrees, I would love to visit Kenya.”

Eight-year-old Sidra Rifai, from Sri Lanka, is another pupil of SRS, in Al Warqa, who is welcoming a Kenyan visitor to his home.

“I really want to show them what life is like in Dubai and about our culture,” he said.

“But the main thing is I want to make friends and learn about their hobbies and find out what they are interested in.”

The chance to meet and share experiences with children who have a different way of life is something the children at SRS are really looking forward to.

The school in Kenya is economically challenged and staff at SRS had to arrange for three of the children to obtain passports and visas.

“The idea behind the project is to give our students a better understanding of what life is like in other countries,” said Frazer Angus, assistant head of primary at SRS.

SRS got in contact with Barut via the British Council in Kenya.

Because of a lack of computers, their headteacher had to use an internet cafe every time he wanted to contact SRS.

The school in Dubai has since provided him with a smartphone and they now communicate almost daily using WhatsApp.

Life is very different in rural Nakuru, where the average size of a class is 60 children and where livestock sales are used to fund the school.

Ahead of the visit, the schools have exchanged letters and SRS sent a welcome pack with items and souvenirs showing Emirati culture and what life is like in Dubai.

The Kenyan pupils and staff are expected in Dubai on February 27.

“Once the children and teachers arrive we’ll get them settled in and take them around Dubai to see some of the sights,” said Mr Angus.

They will also take part in school sessions, with staff at SRS providing training for the Kenyan teachers.

A return visit by eight SRS teachers is planned for the end of March, during which they will provide training to staff at the school and set up community education projects.

Parents and SRS staff are raising the Dh60,000 to make the trip possible and are appealing for sponsorship.

nhanif@thenational.ae