GEMS Education held a special event at GEMS International School – Al Khail to mark the end of the Year of Zayed and announce the winners of its network-wide Year of Zayed Competition. From May to December 2018, GEMS Education students took part in conceiving and delivering a variety of projects and initiatives all designed to celebrate and embody the values and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
During the event, shortlisted students were invited on stage to present their projects in front of the judging panel, fellow students, parents, teachers and GEMS Education representatives including Dino Varkey, GEMS Education CEO, and Sir Christopher Stone, Global Chief Education Officer – GEMS MENASA.
Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education, said: “The UAE is as much a part of the fabric and identity of GEMS Education as GEMS is a part of the UAE. Accordingly, GEMS has always been a proponent and champion of the UAE’s national agenda and initiatives, and this is clearly reflected in the enterprising student projects we have seen today, which seek to embody the values, characteristics and spirit of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. We are proud to have played a part in helping to highlight and continuing this great leader’s legacy, which lives on in the actions and behaviours of all involved at GEMS Education.”
Cash prizes worth AED 22,000 were awarded to the top three projects, with first place going to GEMS Modern Academy’s Tilly the Turtle Project, second place going to GEMS Millennium School – Sharjah’s Triumph Project, and third place awarded to GEMS International School – Al Khail’s Smiles4Zayed Project.
Deema Al-Alami, Vice President of Arabic & Islamic at GEMS Education, commented: “This initiative was a meaningful opportunity for students to represent Sheikh Zayed’s qualities and values through the use of their innovative, leadership, social-emotional intelligence to positively impact the communities they live in. We hope that with the introduction of the new Year of Tolerance, we will find many more ways to give GEMS Education students the chance to showcase their philanthropic qualities.”
Students from all GEMS Education schools in the UAE were encouraged to design, develop and implement a project that had a positive impact on their communities while celebrating Sheikh Zayed’s values. Students designed, developed and lead different projects covering a wide array of topics including sustainability, human development, social responsibility, the environment, female empowerment and leadership.