UAE | Education

TakeMyJunk collects used school books for deserving children

TakeMyJunk picks the school books from your doorstep

By ANJANA KUMAR, STAFF REPORTER, XPRESS 
Published: 00:00 July 5, 2012

Image Credit:
by the book: Children and parents browse through the big collection of books at the TakeMyJunk warehouse. xpress/ ATIQ-UR-REHMAN

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DUBAI Ajman-based company TakeMyJunk collects used school books of various curriculums from UAE homes before passing them onto children who can’t afford to buy them.

Books are collected from one’s doorstep and sorted at their 30,000 square feet warehouse in Ajman.

They are then given either free of cost or at a nominal price to needy children in the UAE.

“Children and parents visit us throughout the week looking for used school books. They can’t afford to buy new books and hence they come to our warehouse to take their pick,” said Faisal Khan, Founder, TakeMyJunk UAE, a private company started in 2007 by a Canadian businessman who saw needs in his community to reduce waste and provide for the poor.

“We are looking for volunteers who could help us in sorting the books” said Khan.

As schools close for the summer, parents welcomed the initiative of collecting used books.

“I feel really guilty about throwing away school books. But I don’t have a choice. There is no re-cycling centre where I live and the books take up a lot of space at home. Despite advertising in online sites, I have not received serious enquiries. I have to get rid of them in one way or the other. Now I will call TakeMyJunk and give them all my books,” said Bindu Karunakaran, who lives in Al Ghusais.

Uma Srinivasan, living in Jumeirah Lakes Tower (JLT), said: “If I had known about this place before, I would not have thrown away my children’s books.

“The fact that it reaches people with a genuine need is heart-warming. I will definitely use their services in future.”

Mohammad Ramzan, a 65-year old Pakistani consultant, said he routinely looks for school books of different curriculum for his grand-children. “I am supporting my daughter and her family and cannot afford to buy books for my grandchildren. They go to an ordinary Pakistani school where the tuition fees are the bare minimum. Here, I am thankful to get books for free as my grand-children have an opportunity to gain broader knowledge.”

According to the TakeMyJunk website, they have made a difference to the environment by ensuring the unwanted items are reused and don’t end up in Dubai landfills. After expenses it donates a share of its revenue to Ajman Medical Clinic which has a medical fund catering to labourers needing medical attention.

TakeMyJunk UAE can be  contacted on 050-179 4045 or  at info@takemyjunkuae.com.