UAE-based expat group provide kits to Kerala students

Abu Dhabi - Most members of Sree Narayana College Sivagiri Varkala Alumni UAE Chapter are low income earners themselves, but they pool together to help needy students in India

To mark the Year of Zayed, a group of Indian expats led an initiative supporting underprivileged children, with their little contributions.
The UAE-based members of a Kerala college alumni association, with more than 300 members, have presented gift kits of a school bag and an umbrella each, to Class I students of 100 schools in their native districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, in Kerala.
Most members of Sree Narayana College Sivagiri Varkala Alumni UAE Chapter are low income earners themselves, but it didn't stop them from helping needy students back in Kerala, chapter president Shine Chandrasenan said. The members are spread around the UAE.
"We have seen the UAE rulers giving priority to helping the poor and needy, and also the emphasis given to education for the country to prosper. We all are inspired by the UAE leadership and chose to start charity work back in Kerala. As individuals, we cannot make much of a contribution, so we pooled together and succeeded in our efforts," Chandrasenan said.
Secretary Aneesh Bhasi said the group has been doing such services from 2011. Covering 13 schools the first time, they hit 100 schools this time around, to mark the 100 years of the birth of the UAE founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The group's general convener Nibu Perettil said the members identified government and private schools, where children from the lower economic classes are enrolled. "We are supporting the marginalised and gifted a school bag and an umbrella to students on the first day of new academic year, June 1. We also pay their school fees whenever needed," he added.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
100
Schools students helped by group's latest initiative
 

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi