Dubai: Fasting is meant to increase moral discipline and remind people of the plight of the less fortunate. In addition, during the month of Ramadan, those fasting aspire to become more pious and generous. We take a look at how everybody can make a difference in a small way.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares, a philanthropic organisation working to improve children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries, launched its ‘We Can Teach Each Other’ Ramadan campaign for 2015. So far, the organisation has reached 13 million beneficiaries in 39 developing countries.
Bahaa Hamade, PR and events manager at Dubai Cares, told Gulf News: “The campaign emphasises on the abundance of talent and resourcefulness amongst children in developing countries, as well as the responsibility of the international community to help empower these children through education.
“The campaign looks at a sample of children from different contexts in developing countries that showcase their skills and aptitude through crafts, such as wearable items and toys using simple material such as disposable bags, old shoes, plastic and clothes, as well as natural resources such as tree leaves and twigs. We hope to promote a skill exchange between children in impoverished communities and school-going children from around the world.”
To donate directly to this foundation, etisalat users can send a text message to 9030, 9090, 9300, 9600 and 9900 to donate AED 30, AED 90, AED 300, AED 600 or AED 900 respectively. Additionally, they can donate at the organisation’s stand at The Dubai Mall, on their official website, www.dubaicares.ae, or make a direct financial donation through bank deposit to Dubai Cares’ account.
This year, they’re also providing the option to people to conduct personal fundraising activities in support of Dubai Cares by logging on to www.justgiving.com/dubaicares.
Hamade said: “The organisation’s annual mall activity at The Dubai Mall gives shoppers a chance to learn more about the campaign and participate in teaching children to read. Over the past seven years, Dubai Cares, with the support of the UAE community, has been successful in all its Ramadan campaigns, raising awareness about education and collecting donations to support its education programmes in developing countries.”
Dubai Cares has also signed up with various retail outlets, wherein the outlet will donate a certain amount based on the purchase that a customer made.
Hamade said: “Purchasing an Oasis water bottle during the month of Ramadan will help provide clean drinking water to children in developing countries. For every Dh100 and Dh250 gift card sold at Centrepoint during Ramadan, the retail outlet will donate Dh1 and Dh2 respectively to Dubai Cares. For every product carrying a red sticker at any of the Choithrams supermarkets, the retail group will be donating a percentage of proceeds to Dubai Cares. Nando’s restaurants will donate the entire proceeds from the sale of their “All Together Now” platters.”
And there are many more.
Emirates Red Crescent
Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) is a volunteer humanitarian organisation. Initiated on January 31, 1983, it is attested as a member in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
For Ramadan this year, ERC has launched its annual Ramadan charitable campaign, called ‘Make a Difference this Ramadan’. It aims to collect items and distribute them to the needy. This is the campaign’s ninth year and those interested in donating can do so in 17 malls around the country. Various collection points have been set up where people can donate funds, clothes, electronics, toys, non-perishable food and other essentials.
They’ve collaborated with the Majid Al Futtaim Group and extended the campaign’s reach. According to UAE official news agency WAM’s report, there will be significant reductions in price on essential items that can be donated onsite at Carrefour.
ERC has dedicated Dh22 million this Ramadan for programmes and initiatives around the country of which Dh8.5 million are for a programme aimed at distributing iftar to those fasting, Dh5.5 million for Zakat a programme, Dh6 million for shopping vouchers to be distributed to needy families. At least Dh16 million has been allocated for programmes outside the country. ERC has also set up 128 tents across the country this Ramadan.
Apart from Ramadan initiatives, ERC is constantly organising charity drives in the UAE. For more details, people can log on to their website www.rcuae.ae. Additionally, those interested in volunteering can register on their website. Based on their areas of interest and experience, they will be contacted for different volunteering events.
Nashama UAE
It is a Dubai-based volunteer group that aims to aid and restore the UAE’s underprivileged community. They’re organising a variety of events for Ramadan that people can participate in.
Maitha Ali, head of the media team at Nashama UAE, told Gulf News: “Our first initiative is called “With Love”. We will be visiting patients in different hospitals across the country to draw a smile on their faces and please their hearts. This event will take place every Saturday in Ramadan. Second, we have “Ramadan Aman”. In collaboration with Ajman-based Al Ihsan Charity Association, we will be distributing iftar to drivers on the roads of Dubai.
“Finally, we’re working in collaboration with Dubai Police on the fireworks awareness campaign. We will be conducting lectures to raise awareness about the dangers of fireworks and these will be held twice a week in different shopping malls in Dubai.”
Those who are interested in volunteering with the team can write to them at alnashama.volunteers@gmail.com. They are also encouraging people to participate in the spirit of Ramadan by inviting them to decorate their homes in Ramadan-related themes and then sharing pictures to raise awareness about the blessed month.
Flea 4 Charity
Flea 4 Charity is a group that started off from UAE’s local flea markets and has since moved on to raise funds through a variety of events for those in need.
In March 2011, Dubai-residents Luz Villamil and Jihad M’nasria started the association and raised Dh10,000 by selling odd items at a flea market. They worked in coordination with the Tawasil Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Libya, and the funds were used to help the thousands of displaced Libyans.
In the past few years, they have focused on local causes and raised money to buy iftar meals for labourers or organised collection drives during Ramadan, supported by the Emirates Red Crescent. The group primarily uses social media to promote their initiatives and invite people to volunteer their time, too. They will be doing the same this Ramadan.
Those interested in volunteering for the group’s various projects can find more details on their website, www.flea4charity.com, their Facebook page or Twitter account, ‘@Flea4Charity’.
Beit Al Khair Society
The association was set up in 1989 and is registered in Dubai. They have launched their “Ramadan Mer Project” wherein they aim to reach out to more than 8,000 families around the UAE and provide them with iftar for the entire month of Ramadan. They’ve estimated the total cost of the project to be Dh2 million.
They would like to secure food parcels containing all the basic needs for a family Iftar and ensure that they are safely delivered to the families in need. Distribution outlets have been set up across the various branches of cooperative societies in the country.
In order to donate to their cause, those interested can visit any of these distribution outlets and purchase coupons for the number of families that they would like to help. They currently have two types of coupons. The first one is for a family where the number of members ranges from one to five; the coupon’s value is Dh300. The second one is for a family with more than five members; this coupon’s value is Dh500. These coupons equate to a meal for a family every day for the month of Ramadan.
Apart from this, they have also initiated the “Zakat Project”. Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is payable as 2.5 per cent on certain types of wealth in continuous possession for a year. The association allows people to pay their due amounts, which are used as donations to support needy families around the country, over the course of the year.
Lastly, they also have the “Eidiya Project”. Just before Eid Al Fitr, those interested can donate a certain amount, which is used to purchase gifts for orphans, people of special needs and children of beneficiary families registered with the society.
The Angel Appeal
A project by The Mission to Seafarers, a non-profit charity registered in the UAE, that is focused on bettering the lives of seafarers, including those based in the Gulf.
Theresa Dommett, the development manager, said: “Seafarers are often forgotten because they are in ports and no one sees them. But they are vital to our way of life. We are very busy during Ramadan with company sponsored events. For instance, one company will pack 400 Ramadan gifts in Al Quoz, Dubai, and then distribute in the Deira Wharfage. Another company will pack and distribute around 2,000 gifts in late June in both Dubai and Sharjah. By the end of Ramadan we will have packed and distributed around 4,000 gifts to seafarers in Dubai and Sharjah.”
The charity provides funds and assistance to over 200,000 seafarers off the UAE’s east coast. Any companies looking to help the group provide gifts can contact Dommett at Theresa@angelappeal.com.
Shaikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU)
The centre was initiated as a non-profit organisation in 1998 to reach out to and educate expatriates on the traditions and customs of the UAE.
Nasif Kayed, managing director at the centre, told Gulf News: “Our aim is to welcome people into our culture. We explain our traditions, religious practices and answer all questions. During the month of Ramadan, we organise certain programmes wherein we welcome people to a home-style setting and have a meal with Emirati hosts. They can ask any questions they may have about Ramadan, the culture or the traditions of the UAE, why Emiratis wear white or even whether our girls go to school. We help them understand our culture.”
The centre is an independent association licenced by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities. Those interested in volunteering for them can log on to their official website, www.cultures.ae, and sign up.
Kayed said: “Ramadan provides a good opportunity for people to volunteer. There are iftars every day and we need people to help out. The volunteer positions are open to all – both Emiratis and expatriates. We give the volunteers a quick briefing on how to welcome the guests and chat with them on different topics related to the UAE. We help them build on their knowledge and they become cultural ambassadors. Those interested can also sponsor an iftar for a visiting group.”
In addition to this, the centre has also set up iftar tents where they hold talks every day. The visitors are given coffee and dates, along with a conversation on the UAE.
