One of the most important messages of the Holy Month is being charitable. But how can you do your bit? We’ve rounded up some great initiatives taking place in Abu Dhabi and beyond this summer, with plenty of ways to volunteer for (or just donate towards) some worthy causes.
UAE Charities
Gulf 4 Good
This Dubai-based charity was launched in 2011 and is a former winner of the Noble Humanitarian Award Middle East. So what do they do? They organise events and adventure challenges all over the globe to raise funds for those in need in the Gulf and beyond. Different children’s charities in the UAE benefit from the funds they raise. The idea is it’ll be life-changing for those doing the challenges and those receiving the money. You have to be 18 or over and pay Dhs2,200 to join, but you’ll be going overseas to take part in the likes of high altitude treks, hiking, biking, kayaking and even camel trekking over stunning landscapes. Charities which have benefited include Al Noor Association for the Blind, Borneo Child Aid Society in Malaysia and Thomas Barnado House in Kenya. Their next challenge will be in India from November 15-23, and involves white water rafting and mountain biking in the Himalayan foothills.
www.gulf4good.org.
Cause Connect
This charity does a great job of bringing organisations and people together for causes. The essence of what they do boils down to helping people find charities they would like to help out with. Their Facebook page is a great resource for anyone looking to volunteer in the city and they regularly mention charitable events taking place. For example, throughout Ramadan, Blossom Sweets will be donating five percent of their sales to the Red Crescent.
To learn more visit www.facebook.com/AbuDhabiCauseConnect. Blossom Sweets (02 441 2999).
Sheraton flea market
Every year, the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort hosts several flea markets at their site, where Abu Dhabi residents sell stuff they no longer want and donate a percentage of the profits to a specific charity. Recently, the Sheraton has announced it has donated Dhs26,282 from their June charity flea market to Operation Smile UAE. This donation will allow 26 children to receive beautiful new smiles. Other flea markets have contributed to charities around the world, such as building schools in Africa.
Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333).
Breathing Numbers
Based in the UAE, Breathing Numbers is a project that was launched by Muna Harib in May 2013. The main purpose of the organisation is to document the stories of Syrian refugees inside and outside their camps in Jordan. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict over 80,000 people have been killed, 1.5 million have fled the country and with five million Syrians living under the poverty line and 4.5 million displaced within the country they now require immediate help. One of the things Muna is doing at the moment to raise funds is selling the Breathing Numbers peace necklace for a minimum of Dhs50 although you can,
of course, contribute more.
Order via email at orders@breathingnumbers.com. For further info email Muna herself at Muna@BreathingNumbers.com. www.facebook.com/BreathingNumbers.
Operation Smile
Visitors to the Sheraton’s flea markets will know that one charity which benefits from their and the public’s generosity is Operation Smile, the international volunteer-based organisation which funds operations for children suffering from cleft lips and palates. Each operation costs Dhs880 and takes 45 minutes. The Sheraton, as we’ve already mentioned, donated more than Dhs26,000 to them as well. But it’s not all about flea markets with Operation Smile: they are always looking for more donations and volunteers.
www.operationsmile.org.
Burger Bureau
Love burgers? Now there is another reason to like them, as this Al Wahda Mall eatery has signed up with three different charities. The monies donated comes directly from the Burger Bureau restaurant operation, with no added cost to the consumer. For every burger sold, the diner is asked to pick out a token favouring one of these three charities which are Operation Smile, World Vision and Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter. The charity with the highest total of tokens in a month is given a donation of Dhs1,000 while the other two receive Dhs500 each.
Burger Bureau, Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7000).
Shangri-La Hotel and Traders Hotel
These two popular venues are showing their caring side by partnering with the Red Crescent society this Ramadan with an offer that contributes to the charity. Both Shangri-La Hotel and Traders Hotel are offering an overnight stay, a suhoor in the privacy of a room, a complimentary shuttle bus trip to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for the Taraweeh Prayer and, most importantly, a donation of Dhs50 or Dhs30 to Red Crescent. The Ramadan Package rate starts from Dhs670 for a deluxe room at Shangri-La Hotel and Dhs350 for a superior room at Traders Hotel. As Shangri-La and Traders hotels’ chosen charity, Red Crescent will receive Dhs50 from Shangri-La Hotel and Dhs30 from Traders Hotel for every room booked during the period of Ramadan. Employees of both hotels will give away second-hand garments to Red Crescent, plus boxes will also be set up in the hotel lobby areas for guests who would like to give to the organisation.
Shangri-La Hotel and Traders Hotel, Bain Al Jessrain (02 509 8630).
IKEA
If you find yourself in IKEA during the Holy Month make sure you stop by their donation box in association with Red Crescent to encourage the practice of sharing and giving to the less fortunate. There will be also be events such as face painting, henna for children and weekly drawing competitions held for kids as well.
Until August 10, IKEA Yas Island (800 4532).
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Across Starwood hotels during Ramadan there will be taxi iftar boxes where the management will put some food and drink packages together and then they will be distributed to cabbies in Abu Dhabi.
St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island (02 498 8008).
Mubadala Ramadan Football Tournament 2013
Mubadala Development Company will organise its Ramadan football tournament from July 21-July 25, indoors at ADNEC. The tournament is aimed at promoting health and fitness among youngsters and developing their footballing skills. All money received from registration fees will be donated to a charity of Mubadala’s choice.
Register at www.weyana.ae/ramadanfootballtournament or email community@mubadala.ae.
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi
During the Holy Month, in the spirit of giving, the hotel will carry out a series of charity initiatives including fundraising activities to support UNICEF programmes on educating kids in Africa and will put together iftar meals for taxi drivers.
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area (02 695 0510).
Zayed Sports City charity runs
Fancy raising money and getting fit at the same time? Well, now you can do just that when the annual ADCB Zayed Sports City 5km and 10km charity runs take place in October. So why are we telling you now? Because if you do want to enter, they’re actually taking applications already. Last year, more than a whopping 1,500 runners took part in three separate races, raising more than Dhs90,000 for charity along the way. A fun way to raise funds.
Visit www.premiermarathons.com or you can register at the Saucony store in Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7070).
Friends of Cancer Patients
If you’ve been unfortunate to have cancer impact you or your loved ones, then why not donate or volunteer for The Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), a UAE-based charitable society providing its services across the United Arab Emirates to all residents. Since 1999 this charity has delivered moral, financial and clinical support to over 900 patients and their families. You can donate at their website or if you want to get involved and volunteer to help at their events.
Email info@focp.ae. www.focp.ae.
Geraldine Cox
This Australian lady has made quite a name for herself as a fundraiser who created a haven for orphaned children in Cambodia. Events to raise funds for her orphanages have been held in Abu Dhabi before (including one at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi last October), you can donate through her website and also, if you want, sponsor a child.
www.geraldinecox.org.
Red Crescent Authority
The Red Crescent Authority’s main role is that of charitable and humanitarian work for the weak and afflicted. Their desire to build a safe and healthy society (globally as well as locally) knows no boundaries and the humanitarian work they do is quite remarkable. And it’s all done with the help of some brave, dedicated and committed volunteers. During the Holy Month the RCA hope to collect Dhs100 million to support its projects including the Ramadan project which involves a supply programme, the provision of free iftar meals and the distribution of Zakat al-Fitr and Eid clothing to thousands of families both here and abroad. It doesn’t end there: they’re also setting up 120 tents across the UAE in the hope of reaching 250,000 people and will distribute coupons among poor and underprivileged families to make sure they meet their basic nutritional requirements. The registration process of beneficiaries is held at Red Crescent’s Abu Dhabi branch. In addition, interested individuals, companies and organisations can make their contributions through the
Red Crescent Society counters located within mosques, shopping malls, hospitals and other public places.
www.rcuae.ae (02 641 9000).
Pink Caravan
Actually an arm of Friends of Cancer Patients, Pink Caravan’s focus is on breast cancer screening tests and raising awareness across the UAE. Their aim is to raise Dhs15 million to provide the people of the UAE technically advanced screening methods and support networks. You can donate at their website.
www.pinkcaravan.ae.
The One
If you’re doing a spot of homeware shopping this month then it might be an idea to pop into The One. Not only have they recently added ceramic work created and designed by former international model Teresa Ludahl, but they’re a company dedicated to socially responsible investment, hiring challenged employees and ethical sourcing. They also have close ties to Abu Dhabi Future Center for Special Needs, Volunteer in Abu
Dhabi, Special Care Centre, Juice Box Foundation, Labour of Love, Terry Fox and Recycle for a Cause.
www.theone.com (02 681 6500).
Volunteer in UAE
Initially the brainchild of UK native Lola Lopez, Volunteer in UAE has gone from strength to strength in recent times (they currently have somewhere in the region of 23,000 volunteers who have logged well over 230,000 hours supporting various charitable causes) but they’re always on the lookout for more helpers. They’re also particularly on the lookout for extra funding. Volunteer in UAE connect volunteers and charities but they’ve also started branching out into advocating cases for individuals in immigration or medical difficulties.
www.volunteerinuae.com.
Meet the fundraiser
Martina Venus is the lady behind the fundraising activities spearheaded by the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort.
Why does the Sheraton get involved in charitable causes?
Sheraton is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts worldwide, a company which is very strong in giving back to the community. We are involved in global, regional and local charity campaigns such as the Check Out For Children (global), Road to Awareness (divisional), Iftar for Taxis (regional) and Bottle Caps for Children (local). Since Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, an American company, strongly believes in giving back to the local community we operate in, we decided to create our own fundraising events and campaigns, not only locally but recently also internationally.
Are there any particular causes that you would like to highlight?
Locally we support the Future Center for Special Needs in Abu Dhabi as well as the Operation Smile UAE charity organisation. Since most of our charity funds derive from the flea markets which are held every two-three months, we were able to collect a substantial amount of money during the year. That’s why we decided in 2012 to look a bit further and support the poorest of the poorest children in Africa. So we went personally to the Glorious Orphanage in Arusha in Tanzania to buy school supplies, clothes, uniforms and other sustainable items for the children on site. In 2013, we did the same in the slums of Kibera in Kenya.
What sort of support do you get from the local community?
In the beginning people did not quite understand the concept of a flea market. However, after two or three, the idea and success had spread and now attracts several hundred visitors and 100 stand exhibitors (that’s the maximum space we have). We always promote our specific cause at the flea market, and very often exhibitors donate their entire profit from the day towards the cause, so the support is [actually quite] overwhelming!
How do you choose the charities?
I do a profound research of existing charity organisations locally and internationally, whereby I am careful to choose something which the hotel is related to. For example a country where most of our staff comes from, an organisation which is not yet established in the country and needs a bit of a push in awareness to get more funds on board. We also focus on organisations which help the most vulnerable in society
– children. They need us the most! When I have four-five on-hand, I present them to the management team of 16 people and we vote anonymously for one project.
What is the hardest part of organising these events?
I’d say the hardest part is to spread the awareness for it [the event]. Once everybody is aware and understood the concept, the buy-ins come quickly and everyone is on board with full enthusiasm.
What is the most rewarding aspect?
The smiles on the children’s faces, especially children which have a tough life going beyond our imagination. When you see what simple things make them the happiest little persons in the world, you know that all the efforts, organisation, sweat and stress was absolutely worth it.
International Charities
It’s not just at home that you can help. This Ramadan, how about giving to the less fortunate elsewhere in the world? We’ve rounded up some fantastic international organisations who do good deeds all across the globe.
Save The Children
Not all of the world’s children are lucky enough to have even the most basic human requirements. Indeed, millions under the age of five die every year, including newborns. Saving the lives of these children in some of the world’s most deprived areas is what this particular organisation is all about. You can help by making a donation or even sponsoring a child.
www.savethechildren.org.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The message is simple: if you’re a woman you’re at risk of breast cancer, according to the BCRF, and that’s why the work they do is so important. They work tirelessly in an effort to achieve the prevention and cure of breast cancer by providing critical funding into innovative research across the world and by raising public awareness about the disease.
www.bcrfcure.org.
EWS-WWF
From Eco-Schools to Earth Hour and marine turtle conservation, these guys are all about helping the world become a better place. More than that they have a UAE office and are always on the lookout for volunteers both on an individual and organisational level.
www.uae.panda.org.
