Brighton College Abu Dhabi Hosts Concert in Solidarity with Palestinian Children

Students fill gift boxes with presents and other items for distribution in Palestine through Emirates Red Crescent

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 15 December, 2014 - Brighton College Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between the UK’s top co-educational school Brighton College and Bloom Properties, hosted a concert titled ‘Pencils for Palestine’ to express solidarity with Palestinian children in their everyday struggle to achieve education and academic excellence.

Held on December 15 at the Brighton College Theatre, the concert featured popular global favourites such as ‘Heal the World’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’ that resonated with the theme of man’s empathy for the suffering of fellow human beings.

As part of the event, every child in the school was asked to fill a decorated gift box with stationery items, a small toy or toys and other necessary items. In addition, funds were raised through the sale of tickets for the concert, and retailing merchandise, mugs, bracelets and t-shirts at the venue. A raffle draw that gave away valuable prizes also raised thousands of dirhams.

The gift boxes and proceeds raised have been handed over to the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) for distribution among the children of Palestine.
Jo Vigneron, Head Mistress of Pre Prep School at Brighton College, said: “In enabling children to ‘Be the change they want to see’, we seek to engage them in meaningful activities that allow them to empathise with the suffering of those less privileged, especially in war-torn areas. This initiative conveys a message of peace from the children of Abu Dhabi to the children of Palestine that through the power of learning we can together make the world a better place to live in.”

Vigneron added: “We are delighted with the support of Emirates Red Crescent that will facilitate the transportation and distribution of the boxes to children in Palestine and ensure the funds raised reach our beneficiaries. ERC’s support has made this worthy cause feasible and expanded its scope beyond our school. I thank the family of His Excellency Hamad Al Darmaki for their generosity in providing the merchandise and the prizes to the winners of the raffle draw that was undoubtedly a highlight of the fund-raiser.”

Located adjacent to Khalifa Park on Abu Dhabi Island, Brighton College Abu Dhabi offers a British curriculum to pupils from ages 3 - 18 years. The college comprises three separate schools – the Pre-prep school, Prep school and Senior school - in one purpose-built campus adjacent to the Ministries Complex.

Apart from Brighton College Abu Dhabi, Bloom has also built a 10-hectare Brighton College campus in Al Ain. This school was awarded A2 rating by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the highest grade ever achieved by a new school in the emirate of Abu Dhabi following a three-day inspection carried out in May 2014. Bloom Properties is now looking to replicate the Brighton Colleges successful model locally and regionally.