For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Students from the United Arab Emirates Visit Essex Tech to Learn about Agricultural Education

DANVERS – A group of 15 students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) visited Essex Tech today to learn about agricultural education.

The students, ages 16-18, come from the cities of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, and are visiting the United States for two weeks through Kings Education at Chestnut Hill, an international school that primarily works with students seeking to improve their English language skills.

“We’re thrilled to have had this opportunity to share our facility with these students and talk about the importance of agricultural education,” Superintendent Riccio said. “It’s wonderful to see students from another country dipping their toes into this field, and it was a pleasure to be able to introduce them to the world of agricultural education and all that it has to offer.”

The trip was organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, who also partnered with Ajyal Talent Management, with the goal of introducing the students to agricultural education.

It is the first time the students have been exposed to agricultural education, a topic they’re interested in possibly exploring further.

“This is one of the areas that the country is interested in getting more students involved with,” said Michael Brochu, an Ajyal Talent Management adviser to the group. “It’s an important area for students to learn from in order to consider exploring the field further.”

In addition to their visit to Essex Tech, the students have been taking English language and agricultural education lessons during their visit.

The student’s visit to Essex Tech began with ice breaker activities that allowed the teens to interact with five Essex Tech students and one recent alumni of the school. During the ice breaker portion of the visit, Essex Tech students helped harness and instruct the visiting group while they participated in rope course and rock climbing activities at the school’s challenge course.

Following the ice breaker activities, the visiting group toured the school’s facilities, including farm equipment and farm pastures. They also stopped by the barns and buildings that house large and small animals, including cows, goats, birds, reptiles and rodents.

The tour was lead by Essex Tech staff and students from various courses of study, including arboriculture, equine science, environmental technology and veterinary science.

“In our country, we don’t have education like this,” said Reema Alhanaee, a chaperone for the group through the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge. “That’s why the students are so excited. They are learning something new.”

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