At CGIA, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens when children are given the opportunity to take an idea and make it their own. On July 31st, 2026, Common Grounds International Academy hosted its very first Flea Market; an event that was organised by the students with the support of their teachers and parents. From planning and creating products to setting up stalls, interacting with customers and managing their sales, students experienced entrepreneurship, teamwork, responsibility and problem-solving in action.
More than a successful event, the Flea Market became a memorable learning experience for our children—and a joyful one for the families who watched them grow in confidence and independence. Here are some of the reflections shared by our parents on what the experience meant to their children and to them.

I am so grateful to the entire CGIA team for organizing the flea market. The initiative, the planning, the countless hours of effort, and the heart that went into making this happen truly deserve a huge shout-out.

As a parent, today gave me something far more valuable than I expected—it gave me a glimpse of an alternative future for my son. He woke up early, got himself ready, and handled almost everything independently with very little help from me. He planned, made decisions, interacted confidently, and even came home proudly telling me that when a child wanted both bruschetta and garlic bread, he combined the two, created something new, and charged a little extra for it!

At that moment, I didn’t just see my son. I saw a young chef, an entrepreneur, and most importantly, a responsible young person discovering his own capabilities.
He thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience and even came home with goodies for me and gifts for his sister. My heart is full

To everyone who made this event possible, thank you. Experiences like these create opportunities for our children to discover parts of themselves that classrooms sometimes cannot.
As a parent, I couldn’t be more pleased or more grateful.

Thank you once again.

Reshma
Mother of Aarush Arun (Grade 6)

Dear Team,

My name is Sherin Kadeeja, mother of Leanne Leyla from Grade 1.

I simply wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone at the school for the wonderful work you do every single day.

As a parent, watching my daughter grow in such a creative, nurturing, and energetic environment fills me with so much joy. There are moments when I jokingly think, “I wish I had been born now,” because of the beautiful learning experiences and opportunities today’s children get to enjoy.

Thank you for creating a space where children feel inspired, encouraged, and genuinely happy to learn.

My sincere appreciation goes out to every single person who contributes to this environment: the teachers, faculty, support staff, Chechi’s, drivers, and everyone working behind the scenes. Your care, patience, and dedication do not go unnoticed. It is reassuring to know that our children are surrounded by people who truly look after them with such warmth and commitment.

Thank you once again for everything you do. We are truly grateful to have Leyla be a part of your school community.

With warm regards,

Sherin Kadeeja
Mother of Leanne Leyla (Grade 1)

The flea was such a beautifully organised and memorable event! The children had an absolutely wonderful time, and the excitement leading up to it was truly something special. My son had been eagerly looking forward to it for the entire past week, and today was everything he had hoped for and more.

It was wonderful to see how enthusiastically both the teachers and students came together and put in so much effort to bring the event to life. The planning, participation, and energy from everyone made the whole experience so enjoyable for the children.

What touched me the most was seeing the change in my son after coming home. He felt a real sense of independence and achievement, and there was an immense sense of pride in him. For a child, experiences like these are so valuable; they teach them confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and the joy of creating something together.

A heartfelt thank you to all the teachers and students who worked so hard to make this event such a success. Thank you for giving our children such a wonderful, joyful, and meaningful experience. They truly had a fantastic time, and we parents are so grateful for the effort that went into making it happen!

Renosha,
Mother of Taabish Nadeam ( Grade 2)