Parents of school-aged children can easily find themselves experiencing conflicting emotions when emails arrive in their inboxes, WhatsApp group are hurriedly organised or Zoom calls are scheduled to discuss the latest foreign trips that schools or local sports clubs are seeking to offer.
With the world fully open again and unrestricted travel back on the agenda – last week, the World Health Organisation declared the Covid-19 pandemic “over” a few days after the US government said it would drop its requirement for international travellers to prove their vaccination status on arrival – the list of potential destinations for school and sports trips is almost limitless.
Week-long trip to the US to experience the cultural sights and sounds of a major city? You got it. Three-day sports tournament in Europe? Absolutely. Ski trip in the winter? Certainly.
Parents naturally want their children to enjoy the best experiences as they grow up, but can also face the difficult challenge of trying to manage both expectations and their family budgets when making decisions about whether to send their children on a trip or not.
Trips can be priced comfortably into five figure dirham sums and are additional costs on top of the persistent calls on household purses made by school fees, uniform costs, bus charges and sports club subscriptions.
Many households are also grappling with rising expenses, whether they be rent increases, higher prices at the supermarket or the general lifestyle creep that most of us will be familiar with.
Schools and sports organisations, meanwhile, may well increase their fees this year, whether because the regulatory framework allows them to do so or because they now feel more able to pass costs on to customers rather than absorbing them, as they may have done during the toughest phases of the pandemic.
Other non-financial factors also weigh on any decisions about opting into trips or not, such as the mixed feelings a parent may feel about saying no to their kids or even the well-known fear of missing out.
From experience, I also know that the best-organised foreign trip one of my children went on was the cheapest – a rugby tour to South Asia that involved the touring party staying in youth hostels – but it is only retrospectively that you can truly make those judgments. The general point, though, is that ticket prices, high or low, do not always align with the quality of the trip.
All told, it is a difficult space to navigate for both parents and organisers – balancing cost, value and opportunity, as well as needing to take into account safeguarding, security and a host of other important factors.
Trip organisers also feel the burden of responsibility to deliver affordable tours with purpose and experience.
A few days ago, I spoke to Seth Amoafo, founder of Proactive Soccer School (PASS) in Abu Dhabi, who recently took a group of young footballers and their parents to visit the Right to Dream academy near the Volta River in the eastern region of Ghana, on a trip that mixed sport and learning.
Since opening its doors in 1999, the Right to Dream academy has gained a global reputation for helping talented young footballers develop. By its own estimates, more than 140 of its students have gone on to play professional football.
While this may seem like the kind of football factory that is partially replicated at academies all over the world, Right to Dream has a philosophy best summed up by a quote written on one of its walls: “Don’t expect to reach your dreams if you don’t help others reach theirs.” Its mission is not just to nurture sporting talent, but to help the individuals it works with become well-rounded citizens.
Mr Amoafo, who has forged professional ties with Right to Dream over a number of years, says the academy’s mission has also helped him think more deeply about what success means for his own football venture in Abu Dhabi. He says that success is the impact PASS players make in the wider world, not just in sport, but on whatever route their lives take them.
Beyond the academy, the visiting party also connected with Akwaaba Volunteers, who run a community sports development initiative in Accra, absorbed some of the country’s cultural sights and used the staging of the trip to gather second-hand sports equipment in Abu Dhabi to gift to underprivileged communities in Ghana.
The feedback Mr Amoafo has received has encouraged him to plan further trips. Some of the young footballers on the visit told him that the trip had helped them become more socially aware. That, surely, can only be a plus.
The pandemic era felt like three long years of disconnection and separation and most of us want to see the world again and experience different cultures and sounds. With the Covid-19 protocols that accompanied foreign travel now a thing of the past, the temptation is for schools and clubs to run the most expansive programme of trips possible.
There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but perhaps the pandemic experience has also recalibrated how we all should think about the world.
My own belief is that the very best trips of the future will, of course, create lasting memories for young people and offer value – not just in terms of value for money – but also in the broader sense of awareness, community, connection, education and experience. If I had a wish, it is that trip organisers should think big and small at the same time. The most authentic trips may emerge from that spirit.
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Everybody%20Loves%20Touda
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Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Company%20Profile
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UK%20record%20temperature
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Company%20profile
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Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
LOVE%20AGAIN
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Barbie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Greta%20Gerwig%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Ryan%20Gosling%2C%20Will%20Ferrell%2C%20America%20Ferrera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Abdullah%20Al%20Qahtani%20v%20Taha%20Bendaoud%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ali%20Taleb%20v%20Nawras%20Abzakh%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Xavier%20Alaoui%20v%20Rachid%20El%20Hazoume%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Islam%20Reda%20v%20Adam%20Meskini%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Tariq%20Ismail%20v%20Jalal%20Al%20Daaja%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Elias%20Boudegzdame%20v%20Hassan%20Mandour%0D%3Cbr%3EAmateur%20Female%20Atomweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Hattan%20Al%20Saif%20v%20Nada%20Faheem%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Maraoune%20Bellagouit%20v%20Motaz%20Askar%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ahmed%20Tarek%20v%20Abdelrahman%20Alhyasat%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Featherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Mido%20Mohamed%20v%20Yazeed%20Hasanain%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Flyweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Malik%20Basahel%20v%20Harsh%20Pandya%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Afro%20salons
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
And%20Just%20Like%20That...
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Various%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sarah%20Jessica%20Parker%2C%20Cynthia%20Nixon%2C%20Kristin%20Davis%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
