His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance, visited GEMS Winchester School Fujairah in celebration of a project undertaken by the students from three different schools to celebrate the ‘Year of Tolerance,’ observed by the UAE. He was greeted in the reception area of the School by students and staff from the schools and by dignitaries from the local community, the Ministry of Education and GEMS Senior Staff.

The Tolerance Project has involved students from three schools in Fujairah: the Mohammad Bin Hamad School for Boys; the Fujairah School for Girls and GEMS Winchester School Fujairah. They are all in Grades Two and Three, aged between 7 and 8, and have collaborated together over the last three months to complete the manuscript of their own book on tolerance. Entitled “Sea Turtle, Land Tortoise”, the story follows the growing friendship between these two animals. Although they come from different backgrounds and live in different environments, the Turtle and the Tortoise introduce each other to the animals and plants in their world and learn about the importance of tolerance. They become true friends and learn a great deal from each other.

This uplifting story and its colourful illustrations were entirely created by the children from the three schools, who have also become good friends themselves through this collaboration. His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan visited the students as they worked together in the Library at Gems Winchester School, reading the story to each other and preparing the performance of a song they wrote based on the story. They were delighted to perform the song for His Excellency to bring the project to a close. All the students were thoroughly inspired by His Excellency’s visit and found it a great honour to meet him. They are looking forward to the next phase of the project in their celebration of Tolerance.

Perry Linsley, Principal and CEO of GEMS Winchester School, said: “It is a tremendous achievement that, through hard team work, these talented students from three schools can succeed in creating such a relevant piece of writing for the UAE during the Year of Tolerance. On behalf of our students and our schools, I thank His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan for inspiring us with his vision and for visiting us to recognise the achievement of the students.”

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