Dubai - MENA Herald: Students at the Secondary Section of The National Charity School in Gharhoud, Dubai, will return to new-look surroundings after the summer, thanks to AkzoNobel’s first Human Cities project in the region.
The company – a leading global supplier of paints and coatings and manufacturer of the Dulux brand – chose to renovate the school as part of its Human Cities initiative, which is focused on improving, energizing and regenerating urban communities across the world.
One of the oldest educational institutions in the city, The National Charity Schools was established by philanthropist and visionary entrepreneur H.E. Juma Al Majid. They aim to provide the best education for children from less-privileged families who cannot afford expensive private tuition.
Peter Tomlinson, Managing Director of AkzoNobel Middle East & Performance Coatings Africa, and Dr. Kamal Mohamed Farhat, General Manager of The National Charity Schools, officially handed over the new-look Secondary Section in the presence of AkzoNobel employees, faculty members and students.
“We are thankful to The National Charity Schools for their kind support in enabling us to undertake our first Human Cities in the GCC region in Dubai,” said Tomlinson. “As a global company, we fully understand our role and responsibilities when it comes to society and contributing to the communities in which we operate.
“There is no better place than an educational institution – especially one with such noble values as The National Charity Schools – to roll out this initiative. With the renovation of the Secondary Section, we aim to create an inspiring school environment that will bring the best out of the students.”
Added Dr. Kamal Mohamed Farhat: “The enhancement of the Secondary Section is a laudable initiative by AkzoNobel which serves as a role model in corporate social responsibility initiatives. It was wonderful to see the AkzoNobel employees add color to our school and these aesthetic additions have been a pleasant surprise for the students and their well-being.
“At The National Charity Schools, we are committed to fulfilling the vision of H.E. Juma Al Majid, the founder, to deliver high quality education, and creating a positive educational environment goes a long way to accomplishing this.”
As well as painting the Secondary Section with bright Dulux colors – which can resist high summer temperatures – the company also added new facilities to create a more inspiring learning environment.
An active expression of AkzoNobel’s company purpose to create everyday essentials to make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring, the Human Cities initiative also focuses on the fact that a liveable city is not just defined by its modern and beautiful buildings, but in creating inspiring environments that foster positivity and a culture of innovation.