Dubai girl spreads positivity singing Christmas carols

Realising that her neighbourhood was a bit too quiet for Christmas, Grade 7 student of Nord Anglia Internation School, Gulmehek Khan decided to do something to "let the party begin".
On Friday evening, she along with a bunch of 12 friends, armed with their musical instruments took to the streets and began singing Christmas carols, distributing sweets and calling out one and all to join in. In no time the sleepy Victory Heights neighbourhood erupted in Christmas festivities.

Gulmehek Khan made news last year for being one of the the youngest published poets. Her first collection of 30 poems was released in February in the UAE. This time around her latest initiative started as a small positive thought a week back.
"We live in Victory Heights in Sports City and when Gulmehek noticed that there was no noticeable Christmas cheer around the community, she decided to go around the community with her friends singing Christmas songs, playing instruments, handing out chocolates and spreading as much Christmas cheer as she can," said her mother Naureen Khan.
While Gulmehek played the guitar, the rest of her friends pitched in with different musical instruments.
"One of my friends did not have any instrument so we gave him a speaker to add sound effects and he performed so well and got us all the attention we needed."
"The children practised for a week at our place every day after school.I would pick them up after school and some more parents dropped there kids at our place. They would sing, dance, play carrom and prepare for the concert," Naureen told Khaleej Times.
"So many people we didn't even know in our neighbourhood joined us . This is what I wanted - to spread the cheer. Happiness around makes me happy. I want the world to be happy and this, I feel, need some human touch, so I thought why not initiate it. The outcome brought about so much happiness here.
"We thoroughly enjoyed, people all around could be seen smiling and clapping hands, our parents bonded and enjoyed as they walked with us through the different streets of our locality," Gulmehek said.
"Though I initiated the idea, I could never have done it without the support of my friends. I am lucky to have a great bunch of sportive friends who show faith in my thoughts at every step.
"My friend Alyssa, Jack and Isabel are very good singers. Ian, Jamie and Kaleo always bring in the fun factor to everything that we do. Ian is a great drummer too. And my little friends, Nina, Kaya, Kayla and Sean keep us on our toes all the time," Gulmehek said.
"When we spoke to the community management seeking their permission for this musical evening, they welcomed the step. According to them, this is for the first time that a bunch of kids are doing such a generous job," Gulmehek's father Wassey said.
She has been selected to feature in a UAE government funded book called "Good Deeds," as the entity bringing out the book feels she does a lot of good deeds that are beneficial for the community.
saman@khaleejtimes.com 

NA201216-RL-CHRISTMASTREE Tourist looks on the 40foot Christmas Tree display at the lobby of Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, December 20,2016. Photo By Ryan Lim