JEDDAH, 3 February 2008 — Fed up with dodging passing cars and being victims of asphalt burns, a group of local boys have pitched in to clean up a garden located on Abdullah Ragaban Street in the sixth block of Jeddah’s Al-Safa district.
The boys ranging in ages from 8 to 15 have been meeting every day after school since Tuesday in the garden to collect garbage, and dig up glass, metal and discarded rocks and other debris. The boys plan to create a playground where they as well as other children can play football, volleyball and other games.
“We are very tired of being shouted at by neighbors when our football gets kicked or thrown into their yards,” said Hani Ayad Lutfallah, 15, who added that some neighbors refuse to return the ball saying that the kids are making too much noise. “We don’t want to disturb people but we have no choice but to play in the street because there is nowhere else to go,” he said.
“I’m frustrated with getting hurt when I fall on the road and also when our ball gets destroyed by passing cars,” said Faisal Husam Shamaa, 8, adding that they sometimes have to save and pull their money together for a week or longer before they can buy another one.
The lack of playgrounds and recreation areas has been a problem that city officials have failed to deal with for many years.
As Jeddah’s young population continues to grow, so do the city’s numerous construction projects, and finding a place for children to spend time after school is becoming a dilemma that simply can no longer be ignored.
“In the past there was always an open plot of land in local neighborhoods for kids to play in, but lately they have all vanished leaving the only alternate being the street,” said Atif Justania, a father of one of the boys involved in the garden cleanup.
“I would like for us to be able to register with a sports club but this isn’t an option as our fathers are working and have no extra time or money to spare on such activities,” said Abdullah Said Sherhadi, 13.
The children said on several occasions they had asked municipal workers to help them in tidying up the park but the workers reportedly refused telling the kids to clean it themselves.
“We decided if we didn’t have anyone to help us we would help ourselves and the neighborhood kids,” said Ala Munir Kayal, 10.
Arab News spoke to Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, head of the media department of the Jeddah Municipality, who admitted that it is the responsibility of the municipality to clean the gardens but said he was delighted to hear that the kids were pitching in.
“We have been constantly encouraging the public for several years to get involved in cleaning up Jeddah and keeping it clean,” he said.
When asked if the municipality has any immediate plans to construct recreational areas, Al-Ghamdi said he would see what he could do while vowing to meet with the boys and offer to help in any way he can.
“I would personally like to help in whatever way it takes and would like to visit the garden to see how the municipality can provide the boys with assistance in cleaning and to find out what needs to be done to construct a proper playground for these youngsters,” he said.
Upon hearing of the municipality’s willingness to help the boys were cheerful and welcomed the offer, but that they would take a wait-and-see attitude.
