Dubai: As we approach the end of the month of Ramadan, some youngsters in the UAE decided to spread some joy.
At an individual level, they took it upon themselves to organise iftars for workers at various labour camps around the country.
Rohan Kapur, a Sharjah-based student, was one of them. His group, Serve the Heroes, organised an iftar for more than 300 workers at the Tandeef operations yard, which is a part of Bee’ah that is focused on waste management, street cleaning and beautification services in Sharjah.
Rohan Kapur, with his group, Serve the Heroes, organising an iftar for more than 300 workers in Sharjah
He said: “We served the workers a meal consisting of doughnuts, bananas, apples, cakes, juices, biscuits and dates. These people work day and night, even when they are fasting for 15 hours. So, when a child, as young as four, comes and serves them a box of dates and a refreshing juice, they feel absolutely enthralled. We express our gratitude to all the volunteers and contributors who have embraced the spirit of service during this month, and we hope that they shall continue to be invigorated philanthropists, even after Ramadan has passed.”
Harshith Belagur, a student based in Sharjah, is a part of a group of 50 students that is working through the month to serve iftar meals at labour camps.
He said: “Together For A Better World is an organisation that has been volunteering regularly with Team Iftar. The latter is a group that supports around 8,000 workers across Sharjah and Ajman. It is a voluntary service conducted by members of different communities and nationalities who come together to serve the poor.
Hundreds of workers in Sharjah and Ajman are served iftar meals by 300 volunteers
"They have a team of around 300 volunteers, of which 50 are students from various schools across the UAE. We volunteer every Thursday at one of the camps. I think that by letting students participate, they are teaching us a number of lessons that will play important roles in our lives.”
Firdous Mohammad Farooq, a 13-year-old pupil in Abu Dhabi, encouraged all her neighbours to contribute towards an iftar distribution.
She said: “On the first weekend during Ramadan, our family was invited for an iftar buffet. A few minutes before the Maghrib prayers, people started to fill their plates, and I was shocked to see the amount of food they were taking, because I knew they wouldn’t be able to consume it. And I was right, because a lot of food was wasted. A table of eight left behind enough food to comfortably feed 10 people. On the other hand, the next day I saw people waiting outside an iftar tent to collect food packets.”
Firdous, 13-, encouraged all her neighbours in Abu Dhabi, to contribute towards an Iftar distribution campaign
This is when Farooq came up with the idea. She claims that many of her friends wanted to give food packets to the needy, but they didn’t have the time.
She said: “I volunteered to arrange the packages and distribute them, if they were all willing to contribute financially. I then made 40 packets of biryani and gave them to the goods shifter near a mall in Madinat Zayed.”
Manav Jha, a 15-year-old student based in Dubai, contributed towards the purchase of food packets for labourers in the emirate.
He said: “Ramadan is the time of the year that epitomises noble values such as tolerance, perseverance and care. My youth group, We Care, took it as an opportunity and organised an iftar handout for the unsung heroes of our society. The willpower with which the labourers carry out their daily work and continue to fast moved us."
Manav Jha, 15, helps distribute food packets to labourers in Dubai.
"This inspired my group members, seven in total, to take an initiative for them," added Jhan. "We put some money together and bought 150 packets of food; each packet was worth Dh12 and was purchased from a restaurant in the Karama area of Dubai. We drove to a labour camp in Satwa and handed out these packets, which contained biryani and hot samosas, along with a bottle of water to 150 workers. Food is a great gift, but it takes a back seat in comparison to the gift of humanity, kindness and compassion.”
Neola Castelino, a pupil based in Sharjah, is also amongst the lot.
She said: “My family and I organised an iftar event at a labour camp in Jebel Ali. Twelve other children my age also joined us to volunteer and distribute food items to the workers. I have volunteered in many charity events before, but this was a whole different experience for me. As we walked into the camp, I saw a different type of joy on each worker’s face. They all welcomed us with a wide smile, even though they were tired from a full day’s of hard work.”
Castelino is a part of a youth group, called Student For The Earth, that keeps organising different events to give back to the community.
Neola Castelino, a pupil in Sharjah, goes with her family to an iftar event at a labour camp in Jebel Ali which she helped organise
She said: “After conducting this event and seeing how happy the workers were, I realised that we can get joy through small actions, which make so many people smile at the same time. Since it is summer, it was quite hot at the venue, but it did not ruin our spirit. Life is not easy for everyone, so we need to be grateful for the life granted to us and make use of what we have carefully.”
