Students spread UAE’s message of tolerance and respect to US

ABU DHABI // Six pupils and their history teacher will be spreading UAE society’s message of tolerance and mutual respect at aconference in the US later this month.

The American International School in Abu Dhabi pupils, five of whom are Emirati and one Lebanese, will be introducing UAE culture to a group of US students at the Better Understanding for a Better World conference in Baltimore, Maryland, which starts on April 26.

“We want to show them how modern and progressive the UAE is,” said 16-year-old Obaid Al Suwaidi.

“But also how we have not forgotten and are still in touch with our culture.”

The annual Baltimore event, one of several similar conferences taking place across the US, was developed by the Civilisations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation to give American high school and exchange students an opportunity to meet students of different backgrounds.

As the one non-Emirati in the group Alfred Diba, 16, said he looked forward to talking to students about how the UAE’s majority expat population lives in harmony with each other and the citizens.

“Although I am not Emirati I want to demonstrate what UAE is about because I love living here.

“The country has a lot of diversity with different cultures and faiths, and I hope I can show that,” said the Lebanese Christian who has lived in the Emirates his whole life.

Ali Al Shamsi, 17, said he looked forward to educating other students about his country and religion.

“Most people only know Dubai but we want to show them it is so much more,” said the ninth grader.

“We also need to tell them that Islam is a peaceful one.”

As well as US students learning from the presentation the six boys would also benefit immensely said Jodi Gratman, their history teacher.

“This will not only strengthen their college applications but also teach them communication skills, working in a group and how to network at the conference,” said Ms Gratman who has taught social studies in Maryland, Nevada, as well as Ramallah, Palestine over the last 22 years,

Having established the programme last year during which she took nine pupils to the US, Ms Gratman, said she wanted to give her students real-world experience.

“We want the students to develop connections with students from different ethnicities, races and religions,” she said.

One of the nine students who participated in the first programme in 2016 said one of the most rewarding experiences was presenting in a kandura in a high school classroom to US students, many of which had not even heard about the UAE.

“They looked at us in odd way when we first walked in but after the presentation they were much friendlier and asked a lot of questions,” said Eissa Al Khoori.

Being faced with a barrage of stereotypical questions helped him learn how to answer and react in those situations he said.

“Questions like ‘do you ride camels to school’ would get me mad and offend me in the past but I learned you should be open minded and understanding. Listen to them, understand they have a different background, and educate them without forcing the idea on them,” said the 18-year-old.

Presenting in front of more than 80 students from over 40 countries at the conference also gave him a lot of confidence said the grade 12 student who has been accepted to a host of US universities as well as New York University Abu Dhabi.

As well as participating in the conference the students will present to students in a world history class at the Baltimore County high school, visit Emirati doctors and students at the Maryland-based JohnsHopkins Hospital’s Sheikh Zayed Tower - a 335-room hospital built with money gifted from the President, Sheikh Khalifa – and read to patients and donate books at the Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington DC.

tsubaihi@thenational.ae