ABU DHABI //Emirati students had the experience of a lifetime on a humanitarian trip to Zambia.
The group of 13 men and women studying engineering, education or foundation courses at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), had their eyes opened by helping to care for children with disabilities in the capital, Lusaka.
"The biggest lesson I learnt is that people always need assistance from other people," said Aysha al Marri, a 23-year-old studying education. "People have to support each other, and this was my chance to touch another community and learn about their culture."
The group, led by staff from Oasis Hospital in Al Ain, helped reorganise the filing system and arranged medical supplies over 10 days last month at Beit Cure International Hospital, a paediatric teaching establishment specialising in caring for children with disabilities.
"I think it was a challenge for the students, but they really liked it," said Abeer al Kalbani, a manager at Oasis Hospital. Oasis is part of Cure International, a US non-profit group and one of the leading providers of speciality paediatric surgical care in the developing world.
The students also spent time with patients and their families, as well as handing out toys donated by Oasis Hospital.
"We went to help people and I learnt many things about myself and about what it means to help people who are poor," said Mohammed al Yabhouni, 18, who plans to study engineering at HCT.
Ms al Marri added: "The trip brought out something inside of me that I can't explain very well. But I would love to have this experience again."
[ jthomas@thenational.ae ]
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
ABU DHABI'S KEY TOURISM GOALS: BY THE NUMBERS
By 2030, Abu Dhabi aims to achieve:
• 39.3 million visitors, nearly 64% up from 2023
• Dh90 billion contribution to GDP, about 84% more than Dh49 billion in 2023
• 178,000 new jobs, bringing the total to about 366,000
• 52,000 hotel rooms, up 53% from 34,000 in 2023
• 7.2 million international visitors, almost 90% higher compared to 2023's 3.8 million
• 3.9 international overnight hotel stays, 22% more from 3.2 nights in 2023
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid