A strong culture of volunteering is vital for promoting sustainable development and building a better future for new generations. This was the central theme of International Volunteer Day, organized jointly in the Kingdom by Call of Culture and Help Center. The goal was to raise awareness of the role volunteers play in the care of people with special needs.
Call of Culture volunteers took part in a cultural program promoting Saudi culture. The program was also designed to celebrate the translation of a famous book, Nana’a, Heall wa Zanjabeel (Mint, Cardamom & Ginger), a compilation of 81 true stories of mothers, fathers and siblings of children with special needs. The book, chosen for publication by Call of Culture and translated and published by the Help Center in Jeddah, has met with overwhelming success.
Mohamed Bakhrieba, founder of Call of Culture and supervisor of the book’s translation from Arabic to English, said, “Volunteers play a vital role in social projects. I appreciate the involvement of community groups in developing sustainable programs that benefit various communities, especially children with special needs.”
He added that volunteerism contributes greatly to the development of individuals, which in turn helps them to contribute to the development of society by highlighting the knowledge gained from volunteering.
During the event, Bakhrieba spoke about the structure of Call of Culture and how it develops standards and protocols for individuals around the globe for building bridges and enhancing communication through social media and other media outlets.
“Call of Culture is dedicated to promoting Saudi culture, as a first step, and promoting knowledge of Saudi Arabia beyond its production of black gold. But few people know what and who comprise Saudi culture,” he added.
Call of Culture was founded to promote the idea of people taking time for personal and cultural reflection. Bakhrieba called on more people to join him on his mission to communicate with others about culture.
The event opened with remarks by noted Saudi writer, Thamer Shaker. “Call of Culture helps volunteers get a first-hand look at voluntary projects and allows them to unite their efforts to maximize benefits from their shared experiences,” he told the audience.
Iyad Al-Shorafa, manager of Rehabilitation Programs, paid tribute to the efforts made by Call of Culture and Help Center in making the voices of disabled children heard through this book.
Over eighty stories in the book recount experiences of families registered with the Help Center for over 25 years. The Center’s objective in publishing the book was to support people with mental disabilities in becoming active and productive members of society and to provide support for families of children with disabilities.
The Call of Culture and Help Center planned to publish the English version of the book internationally in order to promote Saudi culture in the West and present it positively around the world.
Voluntary projects gaining ground
