DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. JANUARY 2018. Mishal Faraz (11 India), a grade six student at the Winchester School Jebel Ali who is encouraging families to donate gently used uniforms and books to be reused by children in need of them. Her principal, Meenakshi Dahiya, helped her set up two cupboards/lockers in the school where kids can donate (or take) used books and uniforms. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: Roberta Pennington. Section: National.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. JANUARY 2018. Mishal Faraz (11 India), a grade six student at the Winchester School Jebel Ali who is encouraging families to donate gently used uniforms and books to be rShow more
As 11-year-old Mishal Faraz watched her mom quietly fold her outgrown school uniforms into a pile destined for a public donation bin, she had an epiphany.
“These were clothes in good condition,” the sixth-grade pupil said. “I thought that, ‘Would it not be better if these clothes could be passed on to children in school who can use them in the most effective way -- as school uniforms?’”
From the age of six, Mishal has been dedicated to finding new ways of conserving or recycling materials and encouraging others to do the same. Each year at her school, as a member of the environment club, she leads collection drives to recycle used batteries, paper and e-waste. As head girl of the primary section of Winchester School in Jebel Ali, Mishal often speaks to her peers about how everyone needs to play a part in protecting the earth and eliminating unnecessary waste.
So, when Mishal’s eye for environmental protection turned to her home – and, specifically the used school uniforms that she and her younger brother had outgrown -- her mom smiled and welcomed her suggestions.
“She said, ‘Give it to someone, someone who can wear it in the school,’” said her mom, Iram Rizvi. “I said, how do I find someone? So, then she started thinking, and she came up with the idea, ‘How about we have a place in school, like a box?’”
Winchester School principal Meenakshi Dahiya embraced the idea and took it one step further by replacing the collection box with two proper cabinets – one in the primary, another in the secondary school – where pupils were encouraged to drop off their gently-used school uniforms and books.
Donated clothing must be laundered, ironed, wrapped in clear plastic and clearly labelled with the size and books must be in good condition.
“When we are giving stuff, we should give it with respect,” said Ms Rizvi.
They decided to call their initiative WinShares and, in November, announced it to the entire school community. The donated books and uniforms can be collected no-strings-attached, Mishal told her peers.
“There will be no questions asked, there will be no registration, you don’t have to sign in for anything,” said Mishal. “Anyone can take anything that they need and anyone can drop anything. So what we’re doing is building a cohesive society which is also the vision of the Rulers of this nation.”
The campaign not only ensures that these items are not wasted, but they relieve some of the burden of families who may be experiencing financial challenges. A set of uniforms can cost about Dh800 annually per child, and scholastic materials and textbooks run from about Dh100 in the early years to about Dh600 in the higher grades. All those items are now also subject to 5 per cent VAT.
“It not only contributes to the environment and sustainability, but it also builds on the UAE culture of giving, and Sheikh Zayed is the epitome of always believing in giving, so she shared how he has given to the community and always thought of everybody,” said principal Meenakshi Dahiya.
Mishal, a non-resident Indian who was born in Dubai and has lived here her entire life, said she draws inspiration from the Rulers of the UAE.
“Last year they made the Year of Giving, so I was really inspired by this, so I thought that I wanted to do something, and I also wanted to pay tribute to the Year of Zayed,” said Mishal. “I want people to be aware of it and also to inspire others so that they can have similar initiatives in their schools or households.”
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Europe’s rearming plan
Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Scoreline
Switzerland 5
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Score
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
New Zealand lead three-match ODI series 1-0
Next match: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Friday
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
GroupA: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
