Record-breaking campaign collects 11,000kg stationery for refugee kids

Venkatraman Krishnamoorthy hands over the stationery items collected over a 24-hour period to representatives of the Emirates Red Crescent in Dubai.

A record-breaking donation drive in Dubai collected 10,975kg of study materials within 24 hours for children living in refugee camps.
The drive was organised by Indian philanthropist Venkatraman Krishnamoorthy under the patronage of Dubai Chamber's Centre for Responsible Business initiative 'ENGAGE Dubai' and with the support of Emirates Red Crescent. The present official world record for 'largest donation of school supplies in 24 hours' is 4,571kg, according to Guinness World Records. This record is held by Alanoud Alzaid and Nama Charity in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The collection of stationery was initiated at 6.12pm on October 13 with various organisations and schools participating in large numbers till 5.20pm on October 14. The event was witnessed and certified by a Dubai-based auditing firm, which announced the quantity of collected materials. The largest collection was note books which weighed 4,960kg.
Krishnamoorthy, who is also a Dubai-based chartered accountant, said: "The items collected will be handed over to Emirates Red Crescent to distribute in the refugee camps."

In 2009, he founded a charity called education4all that collects stationery items and distributes them among underprivileged children in India and Africa.
Mohammed Abdullah Alhaj Al Zaroni, manager of Emirates Red Crescent, said: "We have big refugee camps in Iraq and Jordan and now we are working in Yemen for a school, all this collection will go to our refugee camps."
Dr Belaid Rettab, senior director of economic research and sustainable business development sector at Dubai Chamber, stated: "This drive complements Dubai Chamber's efforts in promoting responsible business practices as well as to spread a culture of corporate social responsibility for adopting voluntary work amongst the business community."
The event was held at Al Diyafah High School in Dubai. Patricia Johnston, principal of the school, said: "Undoubtedly, the results from this huge event will bring smiles to needy children all around the world."
Speaking about giving back to the society she added, "I am really proud of the fact that Al Diyafah have been invited to take part in the largest  stationery collection campaign for charity, I think it's very important that in society we are giving back."
gaurav@khaleejtimes.com