JEDDAH: Hanouf Khayat, a 22-year-old nurse and an active volunteer at the Jeddah Volunteering Club, doesn’t mind that her brother disapproves of her Eid volunteer work: Spending time with orphans.
Khayat along with 27 other young women spent their time with these kids with the cooperation of King Abdulaziz University.
“We arranged for everything, including the ideas and the activities we want to have,” she said. “The men’s section also contributed to the event. We bought all the stuff needed for the event.”
The volunteers shared four hours of happiness with 300 orphans and over 20 disabled children. “We were not prepared for the disabled kids who were not in the schedule, but we managed to make separate activities for them, including the Fastest Wheelchair Competition.”
The Jeddah Volunteering Club is a member of the Arab Volunteering World organization and has been functioning for two years. The group consists of youths of varying specializations and interests who all share one view regarding the importance of volunteering work. The club has carried out campaigns regarding health issues and social responsibilities and has men’s and women’s sections that function independently but complement each other in social service.
Twenty-five young men, including organizers Abdullah Al-Jubairi and Gassan Gamal, went during the early hours of Tuesday to the orphans to share Eid with them.
“Though it is hard for many to leave their family (on the first day of Eid), we still have to remember that the orphans are left alone on this day,” said Al-Jubairi.
“It was nice, they welcomed us. We chatted with them and handed them Eid gifts,” said Gamal.
Dania Al-Masri helped take about 35 orphans to a theme park on the first day of Eid.
The group is also planning other entertainment events during the coming days. Notable events carried out by the group include arranging marriage of orphans, lectures and training workshops, and entertainment programs. The group has volunteers of both genders and of varying ages and it has a separate branch functioning in Riyadh. The Friends of Orphans has a Facebook group with over 2,600 registered members.
