Ramadan Kareem!
The holy month of Ramadan invites everyone from different walks of life to do some good. It is a time that reminds us to empathise and be compassionate with those less fortunate; it is a time for giving and loving. These are the same values that Sheikh Zayed instilled within the nation as he left his incredible legacy.
To commemorate the historic occasion of 100 years since the birth the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it has been announced that 2018 will officially be known as the Year of Zayed in the UAE. Following in line with the initiatives of the Year of Zayed, Dubai Cares had organised a “Back to School” edition of Volunteer Emirates that proved to be a success right from day one. Thousands of Dubai residents came together during the holy month of Ramadan to spread the gift of education to Syrian children refugees in Jordan. Along with every school bag that they packed, millions of dreams were given wings to fly. These people, living routine, busy lives, united every day for four days to assemble 50,000 school kits fully packed with classroom essentials like pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, etc. The immense hall at the Al Boom Tourist Village was filled with large tables put side by side and thousands of school bags and stationery material ready to be packed up. This sight provided a sense of excitement and harmony.
Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares, showed his enthusiasm by joining the volunteers in packing the school kits. He pressed on the importance of such initiatives, through which the UAE community can provide support to the children caught in the Syrian conflict. Just the thought of 2000 human beings, who’ve never met one another, working together as a team to bring peace to humanity, shows us the power of kindness and tolerance.
Events like these inspire and motivate individuals and other countries to learn from the United Arab Emirates, a nation that prospers on creativity and diversity. The month of Ramadan brings about an extraordinary atmosphere in the country. Iftar is arranged daily for hundreds of worshippers next to mosques by locals, residents, and philanthropists.
The concept of Ramadan sharing fridges was introduced to serve community workers and labourers with free food and drink during the holy month of Ramadan. Numerous Iftar boxes are also distributed daily. In previous years, a clothes donation campaign called “Share a Touch of Love” was organised by OMO and Comfort that encourages people to donate their clothes to help the underprivileged. Charitable organisations can pursue their missions due to large donations received during the holy month. They also partner up with shopping malls to give visitors a chance to donate pre-loved items and other daily necessities. It becomes our duty to enhance the quality of life for those who are in reduced circumstances. Each initiative is a step forward towards world peace and positivity.
