A non-profit organisation in Dubai has taken on the task of helping children from lower income backgrounds by giving them free laptops.
The aim of the initiative is to help pupils be a part of online education in place due to school closures amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Pakistan Association Dubai launched the ‘Tech Drive’ campaign on May 9 after 100 needy families requested for electronic devices as their children were cut off from schools.
The campaign has helped 75 families in the emirate by donating free laptops to help pupils stay connected with their teachers and peers as they continue with the online programme.
Laptops or iPads have become essential education tools since remote learning was introduced nationwide in March.
Many families in the country did not have access to computers, which is crucial to facilitating online education.
The Rehman family in Dubai, for example, shared one laptop among three children as they struggled to attend all of their virtual classes.
“All of my three daughters were really behind their studies because they were using this very old laptop that we have and my mobile phone to check their emails and talk to their teachers. We had to choose who would get to attend their online class,” said Kiran Rehman, who is a Pakistani homemaker.
Her husband earns Dh7,000 as an accountant in a construction firm. She said they were already struggling with house rent and other payments and could not afford to spend more.
Her daughters, aged eight to 14, attend the Pakistan Education Academy and had to skip several online lessons.
"We have received two laptops and that has really helped us," Ms Rehman told The National.
“My daughters have their own devices now and they can attend all of their online classes. It’s a huge relief.”
The Sarmad family in Dubai is another beneficiary of the campaign and have received laptops for her two children.
Salaar bin Sarmad, 13 and Saif bin Sarmad, 11, had to use their mother’s mobile phone to communicate with their teachers.
“We didn’t have a laptop, desktop or an iPad,” said Arshia Sarmad, the Pakistani mother of the two boys.
“It was almost like their education had completely stopped because they didn’t really have proper online access to their teachers or studies.”
Ms Sarmad’s husband earns Dh5,000 monthly as an instructor at a driving school but is on unpaid leave now.
Buying a new electronic device was “impossible” for them as they struggled with outstanding payments on house rent for their one-bedroom apartment in International City and school fees.
“We are grateful for receiving these laptops,” said Ms Sarmad.
Education authorities, banks and other non-profit groups have also run similar campaigns in the past months to ensure pupils from low-income families have access to online learning tools.
With its limited stock of devices, Dar Al Ber Society, a charitable organisation, has assisted families in need.
The charity encourages residents to donate their electronic devices to help learners who may not have the money to buy gadgets.
Sandooq Al Watan, a national initiative, announced on May 5 will distribute 10,000 laptops to school and university students.
First Abu Dhabi Bank partnered with the UAE Ministry of Education and will provide laptops worth Dh5 million to pupils nationwide.
Emirates NBD and Emirates Islamic also pledged Dh4 million to support the ministry’s distance learning programme.
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The%20Kitchen
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
