The Year of Giving 2017 is about strengthening social responsibility, promoting the spirit of volunteerism and undertaking genuine services to help society, both locally and internationally. Five high school students from the UAE have developed new initiatives designed to support their local communities through meaningful and impactful engagement.
From a drone maker with a social conscience to a recycling activist, among others, these students have been inspired by the ethos and vision of the UAE, enshrined in the Year of Giving 2017, to realise their full potential through their personal drive and dedication.
These students, who all demonstrate a strong commitment to community service, were mentored by their counsellors at Hale Education Group as they prepare to apply to US universities.
Maryam Ehtesham, a Pakistani student from Sharjah, started her neighbourhood's very first recycling initiative. Maryam has been volunteering with Emirates Environmental Group since 2010, and decided to encourage her neighbours and relatives to integrate recycling into their lifestyle by adopting four distinct recycling bins for paper, plastic, cartons and beverage cans.
A Mexican student living in Dubai, Darianne De Anda has been actively engaged with United Nat-ions initiatives. She co-founded the first Girl Up chapter at her school. Girl Up is a United Nations Foundation working to improve the lives of girls around the world, while raising awareness about the global problem of gender inequality. The Girl Up chapter has promoted events such as Girl Hero Day and started its own charitable movement by helping provide female Lebanese refugees with basic life necessities such as toiletries, clothes and food.
Another Hale Education Group student who dreams of becoming an actuarial scientist in order to help developing countries manage risk effectively, successfully founded the charity 'Cricket for a Cause'. Ashar Yahya is a Pakistani student at Dubai College and founded the first charity cricket league in Dubai. Last Ramadan, he raised nearly Dh55,000 ($15,000) for Dubai Cares by securing sponsorship from big brand names such as Pepsi, Red Bull, Du and Pringles.
The high school student innovators see opportunities for comm-unity development in a range of ways: Dhruv Karthik created a drone that can effectively navigate indoor environments and understand their surroundings as a tool for the emergency services, and Vania Constantinou has founded a club to teach staff members in her school community English.
Peter Davos, Founder of Hale Education Group, said: "We encourage the students to identify how
they can stand out as residents of the UAE and add value to the community they live in; it is not simply about having a strong college application; it is about the students demonstrating a sense of social responsibility, leadership and personal growth, which are indeed qualities that university admissions officers look for."
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