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When a convent celebrated the spirit of Ramadan

Dubai - The gift hampers contained food items as well as calling cards to help the workers keep in touch with their family back home.

Benjamin Franklin once said, 'Tell me and I forget; teach me and I remember; involve me and I learn'. This seemed to be the motto of St Joseph's School, Abu Dhabi, when the Islamic department of the school undertook a dynamic initiative of rewarding and felicitating their school bus drivers, conductors and the non-teaching staff of the school with gift hampers to commemorate the ending of the holy month of Ramadan.
In the holy month of Ramadan, it is greatly encouraged for Muslims to give Sadaqah (Charity) as Allah promises 70 times more blessings than any other time of the year (as per a Hadith).
"The purpose of Islamic studies is to incorporate moral values and teachings of Islam in the students. So this year during the month of Ramadan, about 70 Muslim students of St. Joseph's School experienced a unique way of learning, i.e., a real life application of the values they learnt in class," said one of the Islamic teachers at the school, Almas Ara
The whole initiative was unique because although the students giving out the gift packs to the workers were Muslims, it was also the Principal, Sister Carmen and other sisters and teachers, who actively took part in the distribution of the gift packs and encouraged the youngsters in doing the same.
"We strive to build values in our students so that they can go out in the world as socially responsible global citizens who stand up and be counted upon for making of a better world," says Sr Carmen.
"My wish is - May everyone develop a desire for goodness, an eagerness for knowledge, a capacity for friendship, an appreciation for beauty and concern for others," she adds.
"What better way to inculcate moral values such as kindness, joy of giving, than actually letting the kids experience it first-hand by giving out gift hampers to the drivers, cleaners as their way of showing gratitude to them," added another Islamic teacher Sameera.
The gift hampers contained food items as well as calling cards to help the workers keep in touch with their family back home.
" Me and my colleagues are so happy and grateful to St Joseph school staff and students. It is the first time ever we have been honoured in such a way. It was really touching. And it was really very thoughtful of the students and teachers to gift us calling cards as it helped us connect with our loved ones and we highly appreciate it," said supervisor of the school transport.
"By these activities the students learnt the values of honesty, patience, perseverance tolerance, integrity respect and the importance of teamwork required to achieve growth and success ," added another teacher Shaji.
saman@khaleejtimes.com