“YIG is a newly born initiative where many active volunteers and leaders in the community have gathered to do good under one umbrella. The group aims to make a positive change in the community,” said Dania Al-Masry, one of the group leaders.

One year ago Maha Taher, the head of the organization, moved to Jeddah and gathered her friends to start a social welfare club. Their first project was distributing air conditioning units to families suffering under Saudi Arabia’s summertime temperatures. They later started going to Dar Al-Hadana orphanage to give English classes. They also distribute cold water to laborers who toil in the mid-day sun, such as garbage collectors and construction workers. Since the advent of Ramadan they started handing out boxes of food for the sunset fast-breaking (iftar).

During the holy month group members are buying food and packing them in boxes for distribution, a project known as Iftar Sayem.

“Due to Facebook, BlackBerry and word of mouth, young volunteers keep pouring in to participate,” said Taher. “I have never met such dedicated, giving, generous and pure people in my life. Each one’s spirit inspires and motivates us all. With each person’s added value we were able to gather donations of water, juice, laban, dates, ful and bread, resulting in distributing 300 meals a day.”

YIG managed to obtain donations from local food companies. The food is being distributed in Jeddah’s poorer districts.

According to Mohammed Al-Bakri, charity is a duty toward those who are deprived and in need.

“The fact that you have more translates automatically into a duty to share with those who are most in need. It’s not MY money, its God’s money, and I am simply the delivery man,” he said.

YIG showed how young men and women were thirsty to lend a hand and give back to their community, said group member Kholoud Attar. “When Maha started announcing the start of a new volunteer project, many people joined — even people she had never seen in her life. With that we built a group that contains people who are driven by a passion to help people in need of help.”

Abdulrahman Al-Turjuman, another group member said: “The challenge is how to maintain this effort after Ramadan and make it a part of our continuous obligations toward society.”

YIG welcomes anyone who is willing to be a volunteer for the Ramadan project.

“I’ve been dreaming to find a place where love, care and most importantly respect are the fundamental elements of any group or society,” said Al-Masry.