Food for those who need it most

Denisa Fainis’s philanthropic idea of redistributing unused food to the less privileged across UAE won her Dh50,000 last year at Philadelphia’s “Creativity for a Cause” competition.

The idea came after Fainis witnessed colossal food wastage while base-hopping across Afghanistan as an American military contractor in 2009.

One year on and the 27-year-old clinched her first deal this March after Rixos The Palm Dubai successfully delivered 200 freshly created meals to low-income workers across Dubai.

“My idea has begun rolling. I have kicked off with a pilot programme with one of the leading hospitality groups that supported my cause by channelling fresh meals to low income groups. Simultaneously, I am also working on making an app that can create a link between recipients and donors. I intend to launch it in the near future,” says Fainis, the business development manager at Dar Al Tawasel.

Like all start-ups Fainis has also had to face her fair share of hiccups. The Romanian national had to modify her winning idea from redistributing unused food to donating “freshly created” meals after addressing government concerns regarding the hygiene and safety of delivering leftover food items. “The idea has been very well received by the [food and beverage] sector and with full consent and approval of the local authorities, I will take my plan to the next level.”

While much still needs to be achieved, Fainis admits she could not have been where she is today without the unrelenting support from the sponsors and the mentoring team.

“Saher Shaikh, founder and director of Adopt-a-Camp and Care Packages, has been my mentor and an absolute inspiration. My idea falls brilliantly well under her role that she is performing for the community. Saher is more than a mentor; she is my support and my guiding star. I can go seek her guidance from time to time when I need it.”

Saher helped Fainis secure crucial contacts, expand her networking opportunities and get the needed approvals from government bodies as well as various labour camps across Dubai.

“My investment banking background, everyday on-the-ground experience of labour camps (plus my addiction to the American TV show Shark Tank, taking lots of tips from that) enabled us to work together to come up with a strong model,” added Saher.

Motivated and positive about the changes she is making within the community, Fainis believes “philanthropy thrives on continuous external funding” and that her project is no exception to that rule. Which is why plans for the near future now hinge on attempting to induct companies across the UAE to make Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) the core of their operations.

She is also keen to contribute towards converting Dubai into an eco-touristic city and work on sustainability and waste food prevention programmes.

This year, Oman-based Muna Al Zayed, walked away with Dh54,980 for her winning idea “Baskets of Kindness” which aims to give handicraft training to needy women to create gift baskets which they can then sell to improve their quality of life.

• To learn more about Denisa Fainis’s philanthropic initiative, e-mail her at denisa.fainis@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/denfresh1

• To contact Adopt-a-Camp visit adoptacamp.ae or facebook.com/pages/AdoptaCamp

— Shahana Raza is a UAE-based freelance writer