Fostering Education for Refugee Children

Create something personal that supports a child's future.

1.5 to 2 hours Indoors Community 5 to 300 people

Join us in packing school items for children

At a glance

Personalised school backpacks for children who need them most.

In this meaningful CSR activity, your team will prepare personalised school backpacks for children living in refugee camps and underprivileged communities, helping them stay engaged with education.

Each backpack is filled with essential school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, and stationery, along with a solar lamp to support learning even after dark. What makes this activity unique is the personalisation element: participants design and decorate notebook covers, adding their own creativity and messages of encouragement.

While all backpacks contain the same core items to ensure fairness, each one is visually unique, giving every child something that feels like it was made just for them.

Why this activity exists

For many children, access to education is not guaranteed.

For many children growing up in refugee settings, access to education is not guaranteed. Displacement, financial hardship, and instability often disrupt schooling, and dropout rates can be significantly higher in these environments.

Even when children do attend school, resources are limited. Basic items like school bags and supplies are often reused for years, with little sense of ownership or identity. Over time, this can affect motivation and engagement.

This activity is part of a broader movement toward team activities that give back, where companies combine employee engagement with real social impact, and was shaped by direct experience in refugee camps, where children were seen using the same standard-issue backpacks throughout their entire school journey.

The lack of personal connection to something as fundamental as a school bag may seem small but for a child, it matters. You are helping restore a sense of pride, identity, and encouragement, reminding children that their education matters and that someone, somewhere, believes in their future.

Why did we build it this way?

Every part of this activity was designed intentionally. Through direct experience in refugee camps and disadvantaged communities, we realised that while school supplies are important, emotional connection and encouragement matter too.

That's why every backpack contains the same core supplies to ensure fairness, while each notebook is personalised to make it feel unique and personal to the child receiving it.

The solar lamp was included for a practical reason: in some communities, electricity is limited or unreliable, making it difficult for children to study after dark. The goal is to help children feel motivated, supported, and encouraged to continue their education.

How the session runs

Led by trained facilitators, engaging and purposeful.

The activity is led by Companies for Good facilitators with hands-on experience delivering CSR and community impact activities across the UAE. Our facilitators are trained to create experiences that feel engaging and purposeful, not scripted or overly corporate.
The session begins with a short introduction to the beneficiaries, sharing real insights into the challenges children face in accessing education in refugee and underprivileged settings.
Participants will then move into the hands-on portion of the activity. Working in small groups, you will prepare backpacks by carefully packing essential school supplies including notebooks, pencils, rulers, erasers, and other materials.
Each participant will personalise two notebooks using fabrics, colours, and creative elements, making each one visually distinct. These notebooks are then placed into the backpacks, along with a solar lamp, an important addition that allows children to study safely even when electricity is limited or unavailable.
As the session progresses, teams naturally engage, share ideas, and connect through the act of creating something meaningful. At the end of the activity, all backpacks are collected, combined with those from other sessions, and shipped to communities where they are most needed in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. One of the destinations for the toys is the Baharka refugee camp, 15 kilometers north of Erbil in Iraq, which 1,800 displaced families now call home. Among them are Syrian refugees and internally displaced people from Mosul in Iraq.
Participants leave with a strong sense of purpose, knowing that something they created will directly support a child's education and future.

Benefits

Real outcomes for your team and your people.

For Your Organisation

Most of us take access to education for granted. This activity shifts that perspective. It brings teams face to face with the reality that for many children, staying in school is about encouragement and feeling supported.

In this experience, there are no titles or hierarchies. Just people working side by side toward a shared purpose. The process is simple, but the intent behind it creates strong connections, naturally improving collaboration and team cohesion.

Because the output is both practical and personal, the impact feels immediate. Employees are creating something a child will use every day. That connection builds a strong sense of contribution and pride, while reinforcing company values around social impact and responsibility.

Activities like this are becoming increasingly popular as companies look for more meaningful ways to approach CSR team building in Dubai.

For Individual Participants

There is something meaningful about creating something with intention, especially when you know exactly who it is for. Personalising a notebook or preparing a school bag may seem simple, but it creates a strong emotional connection to the outcome.

The activity also offers a natural break from routine. It allows participants to slow down, focus on a hands-on task, and engage in something that feels purposeful. That shift helps reduce stress and brings a sense of clarity and balance.

At the same time, contributing to a child's education creates a deeper sense of fulfilment. It reminds participants that even small actions can have a real impact. This is where the "giver's glow" naturally comes in, people leave feeling more positive, energised, and connected to something bigger than themselves.

What our clients say

Hear from teams who have taken part.

Sajeev Kapoor

HSBC / GP Strategies

"We recently partnered with Company for Good for a staff activity in Al Ain, and it was an incredibly meaningful experience. The trainers were absolutely fantastic, warm, engaging, and deeply passionate about the cause. Our team packed school bags for less fortunate children, and the energy in the room was truly inspiring. From wrapping books to personalizing water containers, everyone was fully immersed in the activity. It was emotional, heartwarming, and a beautiful reminder of the impact we can make together. Huge thanks to Companies for Good and the amazing trainers for facilitating such a memorable and purpose-driven session. Highly recommended!"

Charles Ginsberg

PUMA

"This organization connects companies with various sectors in the UAE that require assistance, and it also helps with the logistics of implementing community outreach programs. Companies for Good is a vital partner for businesses looking to achieve their sustainability and community outreach goals."

Past activity media

A picture speaks 1,000 words.

More businesses are now integrating corporate social responsibility initiatives into their long-term people and sustainability strategies. Please take the time to review a curated collection of media resources created with various teams from across the UAE who have engaged in this impactful activity.

Sustainability and Compliance Alignment

Aligned with global goals and the UAE's vision.

UN SDG Alignment

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to create a better and more sustainable future by addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and access to education. This activity contributes the following Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 04

Quality Education

SDG 10

Reduced Inequalities

SDG 01

No Poverty

SDG 17

Partnerships for the Goals

These supplies, often taken for granted, play a crucial role in helping children attend school, stay organised, and remain engaged in their studies. The activity contributes to reducing inequalities by supporting children who face significant barriers to education due to displacement, conflict, or financial hardship. In many cases, access to basic school materials can make the difference between continuing education or dropping out.

By encouraging children to stay in school and providing them with tools that support their learning, this initiative also plays a small but meaningful role in breaking cycles of poverty over time.

Finally, this activity highlights the importance of partnerships in creating impact. By bringing together businesses, facilitators, and on-the-ground organisations, it ensures that resources are distributed effectively to the communities that need them most.

UAE Vision 2030 Alignment

The UAE places strong emphasis on building a cohesive, inclusive society where wellbeing, human development, and social responsibility are at the core of national progress. The country continues to invest in initiatives that support communities, promote compassion, and improve quality of life for all, locally and globally.

This activity aligns closely with that vision by supporting children in underprivileged communities and refugee settings; it reflects the UAE's broader commitment to humanitarian values and global social impact.

"The UAE has made humanitarian work a global mission that reaches every person on the globe."

Dr. Ahmed Al-Haddad, Grand Mufti of Dubai

By taking part in this activity, your team contributes to bringing this vision to life, supporting children who need it most while reinforcing the values of empathy, generosity, and shared responsibility that define the UAE's development journey, or in the words of Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan:

"Children are the true wealth of societies... and the builders of the future."

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Lasting community impact.

Companies for Good was created to help businesses make a positive impact for society, employees, and the wider community. This initiative reflects that mission by giving companies the opportunity to support something as fundamental as access to education.

1,107

Employees have personalised and packed backpacks since March 2023

2,682

School bags distributed to communities where they are most needed

Organisations have taken part in this activity to date

We started the activity in March, 2023. Since then, 1,107 employees from 36 organizations have personalized and packed 2,682 school bags which were distributed to communities where they are most needed. Each backpack is part of a larger effort, collected and delivered through trusted networks to ensure it reaches the right children.

What makes this initiative especially meaningful is that your contribution goes directly toward supporting children's education. Your team is personalizing and assembling school supplies, helping create the conditions for learning and opportunity. It is a practical and lasting impact that your employees can genuinely feel proud of.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers, no fluff.

1. We're looking for a CSR activity in Dubai that actually makes a difference. Is this one?

Yes, this one is very direct. Your team creates school backpacks that go to children who often struggle to stay in education. It’s practical, personal, and the impact is easy to understand.

2. What kind of teams is this suitable for?

It works well for almost any team. It’s not physical, it’s creative, and it’s easy to get into. Good mix of purpose and engagement, especially for teams that want something meaningful but still relaxed.

3. How does the activity actually run on the day?

We start with a short introduction to the children and the context. Then your team gets into preparing the backpacks, packing supplies and personalising notebooks. Everything is guided and set up in advance. We wrap up with a short reflection at the end.

4. Does it actually feel engaging, or more like a standard CSR task?

This one tends to feel quite personal. The notebook customisation makes a difference and people take their time with it. It’s not just assembling items, there’s a creative and emotional element to it.

5. What happens to the backpacks after the activity?

We collect everything, combine them with other contributions, and distribute them through our partner network to communities where they’re needed: refugee camps and underprivileged areas across different regions.

6. Who are Companies for Good? Are you a charity?

We’re a UAE-based social enterprise. We run as a business, but with a clear focus on creating positive impact for your team and for the communities we support. We’re not a charity, which allows us to organise activities at scale and manage everything properly.

7. Why do we need to pay for a volunteering activity?

There’s quite a bit involved behind the scenes like sourcing materials, preparing the kits, coordinating logistics, and ensuring everything reaches the right communities. Your contribution helps make the activity happen and supports the wider impact beyond the day itself.