Embrace the giving spirit

The striving to be pure, to have faith in all that is good and the yearning for togetherness — these are characteristic of the spirit of Ramadan.

But it is the desire to give — often relegated to the background the rest of the year — that is uppermost on people's minds during this season.

In Dubai, there are many philanthropic initiatives to which people can contribute.

The International Humanitarian City (IHC), which comprises organisations that aim to help the needy, offers many options to choose from, giving people of all nationalities an opportunity to give back to the community.

“Everyone, regardless of their situation or circumstance, has something to offer their community.

"Everyone has the capacity for caring and for working in solidarity to alleviate human suffering and contribute to the wellbeing of others,'' said IHC Chairperson Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighting the role people can play in fostering social responsibility.

Make a wish come true

Terminal illness reminds us life is limited. While all of us have only one life to turn our dreams to reality, the sense of limited time takes on a new meaning for young children diagnosed with terminal illness.

Most of them are aware that they have little time to live.
The Make a Wish Foundation works to make the wishes of such children come true.

The international organisation has been around for many decades and established a base in Dubai as a member of the IHC in 2003.

Children between the ages of 3 and 17 who have been diagnosed with life-altering ailments can choose from four wishes: to be someone they have always wanted to be, meet their idol, go to a dream destination or get something they have been yearning for.

Donations made to the foundation go towards making the wishes of these terminally ill children come true.

The first wish granted in the UAE in 2003 was to a child who wanted to meet Shaikh Mohammad.

In 2006, the foundation took 14 children to Disney World in the US and, recently, a 12-year-old had her wish for a new laptop come true.

According to Khadija Warsame, board member of the Make a Wish Foundation, 45 children in the UAE have had their wishes granted so far and the organisation is working towards fulfilling the wishes of another 10.

Ninety-five per cent of children in the UAE enrolled with the foundation have had their wishes come true, she added.

You can help either by donating to the Make a Wish Foundation, by volunteering to work with the children at the office or by participating in various community outreach programmes. To donate or participate, visit www.
wish.org

Labour camps

Take a drive around the UAE and you'll notice a construction site at almost every corner.

At each site are dozens of labourers working under the scorching sun to build the UAE of tomorrow with their bare hands.

Many of them are Muslim and one can't help but wonder what it must be like to fast during Ramadan under such strenuous conditions.

The International Association for Human Values is working on several projects in labour camps that allow volunteers to help improve the lifestyle of labourers.

The latest project, in keeping with the spirit of Ramadan, involves organising food camps, with volunteers going to various construction sites and distributing food to the workers.

This association also conducts several activities concerning preservation of the environment throughout the year, such as promoting awareness about climate change and carrying out campaigns to reduce the use of plastic.

To lend a helping hand, e-mail your details to Middle-East@iahv.org

Doing good

For those who love adventure and also want to give back to the community, the Gulf for Good charity does both.

Participants who take part in a Gulf for Good adventure help raise funds which are donated to chosen charities in the region where the adventure is held.

The options available include a mix of moderate to strenuous activities, ranging from high-altitude treks to hiking and biking, kayaking and camel-trekking.

These adventures provide participants opportunities to travel to some of the most sought-after locations around the world.

The most recent challenge was The Big One, in which participants faced the challenge of climbing Mount Kilamanjaro in Tanzania.

Spanning continents

Thirty people participated and over Dh500,000 were raised, of which the proceeds went to the Mbagathi District Hospital in Kenya, the Amani Children's Home in Tanzania and Motivation UK, an international charity organisation, which will provide 20 wheelchairs to patients in Tanzania.

The next challenge, set to take place in October, is The Great Madagascar Kayak challenge, in which participants will go sea kayaking around islands northwest of the African mainland.

Proceeds from this venture will go towards building and supporting a school for 50 children on the island of Kalakajour.

“These children do not have access to any formal education,'' said Lorelie Cartasano, charity administrator at Gulf for Good.

“Money raised from this trip will help build the school, pay the salaries of teachers for one year and provide the school with supplies and furniture,'' she added.

Registration fee for participants is Dh1,850 and a minimum of Dh17,000 has to be raised for the challenge to take place.

Places are limited to 25 people per group and participants must be at least 18 years old and in good health.

To register and for more information, visit www.gulf4good.org or send an e-mail to admin@gulf4good.org.

Other charities to participate in

International Humanitarian City has over 50 philanthropic organisations to choose from. These include:

All As One
Provides a home for children in Africa who have lost their parents to war, illness and poverty.

Website: www.aaodubai.org
E-mail address: dubai@allasone.org

Children's Hope Foundation
Raises and distributes funds to over 60 children's charities in the UAE and abroad.

Website: www.chfdubai.org
E-mail: chf@gulfwww.com

Unicef (United Nations Children's Fund)
Helps build a world where the rights of every child are realised.

Website: www.unicef.org
E-mail : dubai@unicef.org

No Lemon
Provides quality automotive services to international and local organisations and companies operating in developing countries.

Website: www.no-lemon.com
E-mail: info@no-lemon.com

Start (Al Madad Foundation)
Conducts art workshops for deprived and disabled children, with the aim of widening their perception of the world, helping them explore their skills and promoting dialogue between cultures.

Website: www.startworld.org
E-mail: sonia@startworld.org

For a full list of IHC members and their contact information, visit www.ihc.ae

You can also fill out the volunteer form on the website under the tab “Volunteering and Pro-Bono''.