For those of you interested in helping out:
Volunteer Day to assemble Care Packages for Labourers is August 21st, we'll be assembling the packages from 10am to 5:00 pm and then going directly to the labour camps to distribute them.
Join in whenever suits you. We're hoping to make at least 1000 packages. The Shelter in Al-Quoz has kindly offered its premises for Volunteer Day.
Bring your kids, your parents, your friends. Last time was a terrific, community-building, heart-warming experience for all of us.
We will also be doing a Hygiene Workshop at the camps alongwith distributing the packages. Trying to give practical help and some education of a sort to help them improve their living conditions. The don't have mothers/wives/sisters here so will give them some practical advice on how to take better care of themselves and their surroundings.
Each package will contain 3 months worth of toiletries, one month's worth of food items (especially dates, energy drinks and other items to make their iftaars a blessing after a hard day of fasting) and items that labourers themselves have said will really make a huge difference in their quality of life.
Thank you for all your incredible support and generousity creating the first mass batch of Care Packages for Labourers. The final headcount was 834 cartons! Meaning that 834 men got 3 months worth of supplies each to help them through the terribly hot summer months.
Since then, some other labourers heard about our project and got in touch, humbly asking for our help. They gave me a list of items that they felt would make a huge difference to their lives here. Honestly, the labourers' help-list is so simple and basic that it's quite heart-breaking. There are items such as "pillow cover with no lice" and "socks". At this camp, they have to eat their food off aluminium foil and a "plate" was another one of their wishes.
Helping these men by providing them with a pillow-cover "with no lice" is surely the least we can do during Ramadan to bring some dignity into their lives and to show them that there ARE people who care.
Please give zakaat/donations in monetary form or by donating items. Procuring at wholesale prices, same as last time, each complete package will cost around 160 Dhs. Every little bit counts.
Deadline for donations is Tuesday, August 18th. If you're bringing supplies, please let me know by Tuesday what you'll be bringing so that I can place the final orders accordingly on Wednesday.
ITEMS STILL NEEDED:
- Tang Energy Drink - we need 2000 1kg packs or 4000 0.5kg packs
- Glucose Energy Biscuits - 2000 packs
- we are ordering 1000 new mattresses at 35AED each - cash donations are needed for this
- cash towards items that still need to be ordered
- your time!
The aim of the Summer Care Packages was to help them through the searing summer months. The aim of the Ramadan Packages is to give them a fresh, clean start...a gift of humanity and dignity.
Together we can make a difference. We've done it before. We can do it again.
Visit their facebook group for more information:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=116032589597&ref=share
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18 August, 2009
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10 comments:
You haven't provided any contact number or email.
This is very good , I wanna join and spread the word.
Don't have facebook, wondering if you can please provide more contact info like what Omar mentioned?
This is really fantastic. I am excited. Hope more people take this up. Mind you, a bit more notice will be good. I hope I am not too late!
Sorry guys, Ill do that now.
It is taking place at the SHELTER.
http://www.shelter.ae/
On Friday 21st August 2009
From 10 AM to 5 Pm is packing and then they'll distribute it in the labour camps.
Contact number: 0507096708
Email:
sahershaikh@gmail.com
And I've provided a location map at the bottom of my post.
This is a good cause.Hats off!!
Being in construction industry I know, these labourers needs old newpapers too. In their camps they don't have a dining table. So they lay the old newspapers on the floor and keep all the utensils and stuff while taking meal. I am sure instead of throwing newspapers in the bins, we can give it to the workers.
Since you are in touch with Labourers, check with them if they need old newspapers too.
That's great but it's too bad you pushed the information here so late :(
The charity initiative is great - heartfelt and well intended. But, that it should be necessary is shame on this country, that is built on the unrewarded sweat of "bachelors" in labour camps.
Shame on the UAE for allowing this form of SLAVERY and HUMILIATION to exist in such a prosperous nation.
That foreign workers should come to depend on charity to survive and be provided with their basic needs here in the Gulf in the 21st century speaks volumes for this country's lack of concern for others and their disrespect for international labour laws - not to mention simple human rights.
I am sure that the international press will be ready to make the most of this soon.
Haha, a new keyboard warrior!
pathetic, seriously.
Let us first do a volunteer package for the middle class who have to pay their rents!!!!
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