Getting children to help others

Ockenden promotes campaign to highlight plight of refugees


Ockenden International volunteers organised a programme that promotes awareness in children about the plight of refugees and the challenges they face.

The awareness campaign can be organised for school children as well as individual groups with a minimum of 20 children.

Earlier this year, Louise Hemming of Ockenden International visited a refugee camp in Pakistan and took pictures of some children and also asked them some questions about their families, hobbies and future aspirations. She brought the pictures and showed them to the volunteers.

Castaway Bazaar

In June, Ockenden held a Castaway Bazaar. "It was decided that we should have a booth where children from the UAE could do what the refugee children did, and that in doing so, they would learn about the refugees' plight," says Judith Hees, volunteer, Ockenden International. "We thought it would be wonderful to send those profiles to the refugee camps for the children to see and also make one for the children in Dubai to take home for their parents as a memento," she adds.

"The one that went to the children's camp was free and if the Dubai children wanted to keep one, we charged them Dh10 for it. For an additional Dh20, the children could purchase a t-shirt. All the proceeds went for charity. It was a great success and the Children's Awareness Programme was born!" exclaimed Judith.

"I believe it is important to plant the seed of charity in the minds of children at an early age," said Judith. "I will never forget my first charity experience at the age of seven and I know that these boys won't forget what they have learned, and how much they've given, as a result of the awareness event."

Profiles of refugees

The event begins with a brief talk by the volunteers, where profiles of refugee children sharing information about their families, their favourite things and their hopes and dreams are shared. After that, the volunteers leave the field open to participating children for any doubts or question they might have. This way the children can learn more about the refugees.

The initiative for the campaign was taken by the Beaver Scouts group on October 13 and then again on November 17. During the campaign, once the talk was completed, the enthusiastic Scouts proceeded to a station where they created their own profiles, sat for a photo, and dipped their hands in gold paint for Ockenden's trademark Golden Handprint Campaign. One profile was saved by Ockenden to share with the refugees, and one was given to the children as a keepsake for their participation in the programme.

Beaver Scout efforts

Sue Brown, Scout Leader for the troop, said, "The Beavers really enjoyed the talk from the Ockenden volunteers. They did not realise that such a small effort could do so much for a child less fortunate than themselves. They worked extra chores throughout the week to pay the Dh10 cost for the keepsake awareness pamphlet. Their impressed parents gave them an extra Dh20 to purchase Ockenden Golden Hand T-shirts, which they wore on their next Sponsored Walk on November 17, which also benefitted Ockenden. We were happy to be able to raise Dh460 in October and in the November 17 campaign, we raised approximately Dh4,000."

To organise an awareness campaign contact: Louise Hemming on 050-4447310.