SADA celebrates International Volunteering Day

On the occasion of the International Volunteering Day (IVD) on Dec 5, the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association (SADA) celebrated the global event by bringing together celebrity stars, artists, athletes, poets and a comedy team at the Reem International Circuit, 76 km west of the city, on Hejaz Road.
The event was held under the aegis of Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd, president of Youth Welfare. According to the organizer, the event was meant to observe charity objectives and create awareness through community support to its mission that the voluntary work would become part of community culture.
IVD provides an opportunity for volunteerism, both for organizations and individuals to promote the cause of development at local, national and international levels.
By merging UN support with volunteers at the grassroots level, IVD serves as a unique opportunity for volunteers involving organizations to work with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community groups and the private sector.
IVD was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on Dec. 17, 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on Dec. 5.
The event, dubbed “Carnival for Offering Services,” kicked off yesterday at the Reem International Circuit, that was covered live by Saudi Sports Channel Six. It featured a number of ceremonial activities set by the SADA from several sectors of influential figures and celebrities in representational art and comedy stars led by Fahd Albiteiri, Ibrahim Khaifullah Ibrahim Mississippi, Saleh Alomari, Khaled Moussa and senior poets as well as TV announcers who did voluntary work.
Various major media organizations participated in the event that highlighted the pivotal role played by the media in disseminating and consolidating the culture of volunteerism among community groups. Besides the field of sports and athletes, which was attended by Hilal team led by Captain Yasser Al-Qahtani, youth and car race, the event also featured stars with Arrows Arabia, in addition to thousands of Saudi races.
Prince Nawaf expressed his pride in participating in the carnival, which he hoped would serve to promote a culture of volunteerism among young people through such activities and events. He said it could also help in building a generation of young Saudis who believe in this principle of solidarity and cooperation within the community.
Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi SADA, said this carnival is part of the of the General Presidency for Youth programs and social activities, especially those related to youth.
The carnival was organized in the context of its awareness program that seeks community support for the mission and strengthens the culture of volunteerism in the community so as to promote their charitable objectives and awareness, he added.