'Only record of childhood': Viral UAE school videos reunite Egyptian teacher with students
An Egyptian teacher decided to upload his personal archive of classroom videos from the 1990s and early 2000s. He couldn’t have imagined the digital storm that would follow.The footage, capturing the innocent faces and daily lives of his students in various UAE schools, quickly went viral, creating a heartwarming effect that has reconnected him with many of his former pupils, now adults. For many of these alumni, the grainy videos are more than just a trip down memory lane; they are, in some cases, the only visual records of their childhood. This has transformed Ghareeb’s personal archive into an invaluable treasure chest of personal history.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on Whatsapp ChannelsYou can watch some of the video footage here: “The happiness I see in them from these videos makes me happier than they are,” Haitham Ghareeb shared. “My students started contacting me, and this beautiful thing makes me so happy. I filmed them out of love for them. Our relationship was, praise be to God, a friendship.”The story of one former student from Al Yahar vividly illustrates the profound impact of these videos. “I am now in touch with one of my students from Al Yahar who has become a pilot, may God bless him, and he is graduating today,” Ghareeb recounted. “He told me he had no pictures of himself as a child until he saw himself in my videos.” Ghareeb’s journey is as rich and varied as the lives he has touched. After spending his early years in Egypt and then America, where his late father pursued a doctorate, his family returned to the region, arriving in the UAE around 1987 or 1988. While his father taught psychology at one of the UAE’s universities, Haitham studied English literature at the university, graduating in 1993 and embarking on a teaching career that has spanned over three decades and numerous towns in Abu Dhabi.His first post was on Dalma Island, in what is now the Al Dhafra region, where he spent 18 years. “Those were the sweetest days of my life,” he said. The close-knit community of a single school meant teachers and students formed deep, familial bonds. “We knew the students and their families. The teachers became family.”Later, he moved to Al Ain, teaching in various schools, including Al Yahar, Al Shoyoub, Al Wagan, Al Dhahir, Um Ghafa, and Sultan bin Zayed. This year, he was transferred to Al Rawda Al Sharqia. Each stop added a new chapter to his story and a new generation of students.Today, as the videos continue to circulate, they serve as a powerful testament to the enduring bonds forged in the classroom. For Ghareeb, the outpouring of affection is the ultimate reward. “Praise be to God,” he reflected. “The love of my students and their remembrance of me are more important to me than anything.”'Islam is very misunderstood': Emirati educator makes viral videos simplifying religionMeet UAE teachers who are changing lives, say Golden Visa brings respect, recognition
An Egyptian teacher decided to upload his personal archive of classroom videos from the 1990s and early 2000s. He couldn’t have imagined the digital storm that would follow.
The footage, capturing the innocent faces and daily lives of his students in various UAE schools, quickly went viral, creating a heartwarming effect that has reconnected him with many of his former pupils, now adults.
For many of these alumni, the grainy videos are more than just a trip down memory lane; they are, in some cases, the only visual records of their childhood. This has transformed Ghareeb’s personal archive into an invaluable treasure chest of personal history.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on Whatsapp Channels
You can watch some of the video footage here:
“The happiness I see in them from these videos makes me happier than they are,” Haitham Ghareeb shared. “My students started contacting me, and this beautiful thing makes me so happy. I filmed them out of love for them. Our relationship was, praise be to God, a friendship.”
The story of one former student from Al Yahar vividly illustrates the profound impact of these videos. “I am now in touch with one of my students from Al Yahar who has become a pilot, may God bless him, and he is graduating today,” Ghareeb recounted. “He told me he had no pictures of himself as a child until he saw himself in my videos.”
Ghareeb’s journey is as rich and varied as the lives he has touched. After spending his early years in Egypt and then America, where his late father pursued a doctorate, his family returned to the region, arriving in the UAE around 1987 or 1988.
While his father taught psychology at one of the UAE’s universities, Haitham studied English literature at the university, graduating in 1993 and embarking on a teaching career that has spanned over three decades and numerous towns in Abu Dhabi.
His first post was on Dalma Island, in what is now the Al Dhafra region, where he spent 18 years. “Those were the sweetest days of my life,” he said.
The close-knit community of a single school meant teachers and students formed deep, familial bonds. “We knew the students and their families. The teachers became family.”
Later, he moved to Al Ain, teaching in various schools, including Al Yahar, Al Shoyoub, Al Wagan, Al Dhahir, Um Ghafa, and Sultan bin Zayed. This year, he was transferred to Al Rawda Al Sharqia. Each stop added a new chapter to his story and a new generation of students.
Today, as the videos continue to circulate, they serve as a powerful testament to the enduring bonds forged in the classroom. For Ghareeb, the outpouring of affection is the ultimate reward. “Praise be to God,” he reflected. “The love of my students and their remembrance of me are more important to me than anything.”
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