Dubai

The founders of Drikshya are not the only UAE residents to reach out and volunteer in the community. Sarah Aziza, 20, is based in Dubai and studies Media, Culture and Communication.

She has been volunteering for the non-profit organisation Adopt-a-Camp for the past seven years.

“Adopt-a-Camp works to improve the lives of labourers in the UAE. The organisation works on various projects including providing hygiene workshops for the men, free English classes, organizes activities such as sports days and provides annual Ramadan Care Packages.” explained Aziza.

In Ramadan in 2013, 15,000 people volunteered at Adopt-a-Camp, that delivered 5000 care packages to labourers. Each care package had enough supplies to last six months, including non-perishable food items.

“I believe that charity starts with people at home,” said Aziza. “I felt it was my duty to make sure the needs of selfless men ...are taken care of.

“I definitely recommend volunteer work to youth as it instills values in an individual that aren’t necessarily taught in a classroom or at a corporate internship.”

Faizan Shaikh, a resident in Dubai volunteered at the Awareness Project, based in Pakistan. Aimed at providing better education for children, Shaikh explained that most of the volunteers were at university themselves.

“[Volunteering] allows us to understand the real issues of the world, the hidden truth about everything. It gives you confidence and courage to fight for others, not just for yourself.”

Arushi Madan, 15 years old, has volunteered at numerous charities, the Al Noor Centre, a center that helps children with special needs. Based in Sharjah, Arushi has also been paying for an orphan in India to receive education from her own pocket money. Currently enrolled in Delhi Private School in Sharjah, Arushi said that volunteering at various charities over the past six years has “developed my communication skills , inter-personal relationship skills, and has removed my hesitation in talking publicly…[Volunteering] has brought out a much better human being out of me”. Arushi has also volunteered for numerous charities that provide for labourers during Ramadan.

 

— The writer is an intern with the International Section at Gulf News