Bake sales to donation drives: How Dubai schools are aiding earthquake relief effort

'Bags and bags of donations' as schools overwhelmed by outpouring of support for people in Turkey and Syria

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park had its collection drive this week and hundreds of families came in and donated items from a list of goods that were provided by Turkish Airlines. Photo: Dubai British School Jumeirah Park

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park's collections will go to the needy in Turkish and Syrian earthquake zones. Photo: Dubai British School Jumeirah Park

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park has sent more than 400 boxes filled with items of essentials so far. Photo: Dubai British School Jumeirah Park

Kyra, a Year 9 pupil at Jumeirah College, bakes cookies for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. Photo: Cherry Pachisia

Anya, a Year 5 pupil at Jumeirah Primary School, prepares a mix for cookies that will be sent to earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. Courtesy: Cherry Pachisia

Hartland International School in Dubai put out an urgent appeal on Thursday evening for earthquake aid and by Friday had enough donations to fill a couple of three tonne lorries. Photo: Hartland International School

Greenfield International School asked families to donate warm clothing, blankets, canned food and hygiene items. Pictured are Principal Leigh Girven and Leah Watson, head of Greenfield Community of Parents. Photo: Greenfield International School

Families and schools across Dubai have joined worldwide efforts to provide relief after the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Schools running collection drives have been inundated with donations of essential items to help those in need.

They are working with authorised charities, airlines and the Emirates Red Crescent to ensure the items reach earthquake survivors.

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park has teamed up with Turkish Airlines to deliver much-needed support.

“We were absolutely overwhelmed with what came through from our parent body on Wednesday, just bags and bags and bags of donations," said the school's principal, Rebecca Coulter.

Staff, parents and pupils at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park have come together to deliver crucial support for people affected by the earthquake. Photo: Dubai British School Jumeirah Park

“We had a team of parent volunteers who spent all of Wednesday packing and had more than 300 boxes sent over to the Turkish Airlines drive to get them over to Turkey and Syria."

Families donated warm clothes, blankets, baby clothes, food and products, canned and packed goods, tents, camping equipment, among other things.

“We had over 300 boxes leave the school at the end of the day and then we had a further 100 boxes yesterday," she said.

“I think everyone appreciated the opportunity to come together."

Meeting a growing need

Leigh Girven, principal at Greenfield International School, said her school had close to 30 Turkish and Syrian families and, while none of their immediate relatives had been affected by the earthquake, they had family and friends who had been.

The parents' association at the school led a collection and families were asked to donate warm clothing, blankets, canned food and hygiene items.

"It's very important to us that we support these communities in any way that we can," said Ms Girven.

“We've started already this week and will continue through to next week, and we're looking at doing an initiative where we're going to get one of our school buses to go around the other Taaleem schools and collect any aid that they may have collected and then deliver it to the appropriate government-approved organisations,” said Ms Girven.

“Moving forward, we will really build it up next week because my understanding is that the needs are growing every day."

Support network in place

Aminah Evans, assistant head at Hartland International School, said an urgent appeal was issued to parents on Thursday.

By Friday they had enough donations to fill a couple of three-tonne lorries.

“Parents were bringing things all day and more than 50 pupils on the charity-committee were been packing during their lunch breaks," she said.

"We had the parents, staff, and students all working together to pack all the boxes.

"Parents at the school donated new clothes, new shoes, bedding, blankets, tents, rugs, we've had food items, 10 foods rice, or your we've had baby food, baby milk and, toys."

She said families of some of their pupils had been directly affected.

The school is working with its counsellors to support them.

"With Lighthouse Arabia, there was a webinar hosted by our school counsellors to support those families directly affected so we can give them that support that counsel that they desperately need," said Ms Evans.

Anya Anand, 9, baking cookies to support earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. Photo: Cherry Pachisia

Family fund-raisers

Kyra Anand, 13, and her nine-year-old sister Anya , have been busy baking cookies since Thursday, which they plan to sell and give the proceeds to Emirates Red Crescent.

Their mother Cherry Pachisia said they were keen to utilise their own talents and hobbies to assist the victims of the disaster.

“So far we have so far we have 200 cookies worth of orders. We have already sold 80 and I have yet another 120 more to bake and deliver," said Ms Pachisia.

“I'm delivering these myself between work. So far we have collected Dh1,000 and we are still baking.

“If people still keep asking us, we will continue doing it. There is no limit to how much you can do and it's such a small effort.

"We have always encouraged our girls to take on a social campaign in order for them to be more compassionate and find ways to give back to the community."

The mother said their family would purchase blankets and socks and donate to the school's collection box set up by The Emirates Red Crescent.

Residents will continue their efforts in the coming weeks.

Rachel Higgins, principal at Gems Jumeirah Primary School said their initiative will start on Saturday and continue until February 25.

Ms Higgins said the tragedy hit close to home for some members of the school population.

"I've just spoken to one of the one of the parents who said that part of their family is from the area, and they have got relatives that have not been accounted for at this time, which is which is obviously desperately sad and worrying," said Ms Higgins.

The school will have The Emirates Red Crescent collection boxes at its premises.

Parents can help out in three ways. They can either drop required items off at the collection boxes, which would be available at the reception. The school will also have a box for cash donations, which has been supplied by The Emirates Red Crescent. They can also make an online donation.

"There are no limits, they can drop off as much as they like, and then we'll arrange the delivery," she said.

UAE volunteers offer helping hand — in pictures

Volunteers pack food, blankets and other essential goods at Adnec, in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

The supplies for people affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey and part of the Emirates Red Crescent's 'Bridges of Goodness' relief campaign

Volunteers from Rabdan Academy

Thousands of volunteers provided a vital helping hand in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

The UAE initiative — called “Bridges of Goodness” was organised by the Emirates Red Crescent and supported by several other charitable organisations

Volunteers from Etihad Aviation

Volunteer, Muneera Al Hosani with postcards of encouragement

Dr Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Red Crecent with Tugay Tuncer, Ambassdor of Turkey and Syrian charge d'affaires, Ghassan Abbas at Adnec

Volunteers from Syria, Reem Al Azem and Nawras Al Kassas

Ahmed Moawad and daughter, Jana

Emirates Red Crescent 'Bridges of Giveness' campaign in support of quake-ravaged Turkey and Syria at the Adnec conference halls in Abu Dhabi

Alexandra Turunen, 7, with mother, Catherine

Alexandra Turunen, 7, writing letters of comfort

Emirates Red Crescent 'Bridges of Goodness' campaign

A volunteer writing letters of comfort

The UAE turned out in force to support those affected by the devastating earthquake

Mona Alhosani, Dana Tarek and Rasha Khalil

Volunteers register to help with the campaign