GEMS American Academy – Abu Dhabi raises AED 81,500 for village school in Zanzibar
March 01, 2009
As part of its commitment to inculcate the GEMS core values of World Citizenship, Universal Values, Leadership Qualities and Forward Thinking, GEMS American Academy (GAA) – Abu Dhabi hosted a Black-Tie Fundraiser event at the Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers.
The event is part of a year-long commitment by the students of GAA to help furnish a brand new village school in an impoverished community in Zanzibar, with desks, washroom and ablution facilities. Once open, the teachers and learning materials for the school will be provided by the Government of Zanzibar.
“The school project in Zanzibar was an ideal initiative to instill the values of world citizenship, universal values and leadership qualities in our students,” said Jason McBride, Principal and Head of School at GAA. “Part of our school’s mission is to help students make a difference in the lives of others and this project has fulfilled the objective in a meaningful way.”
To assess the possibilities for assistance, a diplomatic delegation from the Government of Zanzibar visited GAA to meet with the students and administration. Since that time, GAA’s students have been hard at work hosting a number of fundraising activities from bake sales and pyjama days to crazy hair and free dress days. All of these events culminated in a parent-led Black Tie event. The evening, which included a silent auction, toppled the project’s fundraising scales by weighing in at around AED 81,500.
“For a small school of less than 300 students to raise AED 81,500 is a testament of the hard work of our students and staff and the generosity of the GAA community. I am delighted that we could make such a huge difference to the village school almost 4,000 kilometres away,” added McBride.