March 22nd, 2017: Students from Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have been inspired by a classroom lesson in ethical reasoning to use their learning in support of the local community.
As part of the course, led by Assistant Professor, Dr. Louise Lambert, the students undertook a visit to a Dubai labour camp where they handed out 50 boxes of clothing, food and toiletries to residents at the site. They were so inspired by the impact of their gesture that they decided to organize a University-wide collection to deliver more items to those in need.
Dr. Lambert explained, “The ethical reasoning course includes a do-good project to help students demonstrate their character strengths. As Aristotle said – loosely translated – if you think merely not doing bad is enough to make you good, we have a long way to go as a society! You must do good to be a good person, and not just avoid the bad.
“Our first visit to the camp was so successful that, as a class, we decided to do it again as we realized that we were able to do much more in light of the needs we encountered there. The students, myself included, were moved by what we saw and felt that as a university, surely we can organize to give more than the 50 boxes of items we managed to raise the first time.”
Speaking about the initiative, journalism student Noor Rafat said, “It was a very rewarding feeling to do something for someone else without getting or even expecting anything in return. This experience has motivated me to look for other opportunities to help the community and to volunteer whenever I can.”
The visits were organized in conjunction with the Royati Society, an organization that feeds labourers each night, as well as offering clothes, play groups, language classes, food, and other aspect of support donated by the community to the labour accommodations across Dubai.
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