Saudi volunteers have been campaigning for the third consecutive year to help street workers through summer heat by distributing chilled water in the morning.

The Young Initiative Group (YIG), launched this campaign in 2010 in Jeddah. They started by sending e-mails, SMS and social media messages to encourage people to spread smiles and give away cold water to street workers.

“I do this every day,” said Marwa Jafar, a 27-year-old banker. “When I first heard of it I thought it was a brilliant idea where we can help those who clean our city. When you think of it, it will make you sad knowing they spend all morning cleaning the streets and working on buildings under this summer heat that goes up to 50 degrees Celsius sometimes.”

It is a small gesture to give a helping hand to those who work in the summer sun, said Salem Al-Shammari, a 21-year-old college student.

“All you have to do is freeze your bottled water overnight and distribute it to street cleaners on your way to work or to college,” he said. “This costs you almost nothing but it can help them tolerate the heat and cool off.”

Street cleaners and construction workers might face dehydration because they sweat a lot when working outdoors. The campaign will help keeping their system stable, said Dr. Waleed Andijani, medical student. “We aim to help them maintain their balance and make their body temperature stable during their work hours,” he said. “We start distributing cold water when the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius. This means almost the whole year, as Jeddah is warm all year long,” he added.

In 2012, some volunteers decided to spice it up and distribute cold juices instead of just water.

“It is better to give them juice because it contains sugar that will boost their energy and give them the sweet taste they need,” said another medical student Rania Al-Harthy.

“I hand out drinks to the street cleaners who work in the university campus because I see them at work all day around the campus cleaning after those students who throw their trash on the street.

“Juice contains sugar and fruits and this is healthy for them. I always choose the brands that I drink myself, those brands that use good ingredients,” she added.

Volunteers this week are heading to consulates in Jeddah to distribute water and tissue boxes to those who are waiting for their paperwork to be done.

“Humanity is not just a social responsibility, it is a drive that makes us insist to take part in these initiatives,” said Khalid Zahid, COO at Budget rent-a-car.

“This is what made our company donate bottles of water and tissue boxes knowing those who are sitting outside are exposed to the heat and need help from anyone,” he added.