Community Service

Certificate of Appreciation from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services

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Certificate of Appreciation from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services
Dear Friends,
It gives me immense pleasure to share with you the joy of receiving today a Certificate of Appreciation from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Service (SCHS), a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates under the Director Generalship of Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammad Al Qasimi for my contribution in the recently conducted 4th Used Book Fair.
The joy of interacting with the organisation and feelings I get while assisting those children and patrons involved is divine.
What I do for them is simple and not even comparable to the dedicated human effort offered by those assist them and involve with them on a day to day basis. I sincerely wish god gives me more opportunity to serve SCHS and other deserving individuals or organisaions, within my capability and capacity in future.
Sincerely,
Ramesh Menon
26. September 2011

This entry was posted in Achievements, Clicks and writes, Community Service, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

Speeding traffic at Kuthiran Sastha Temple Trichur Palghat highway

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Speeding traffic at Kuthiran Sastha Temple Trichur Palghat highway
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The stretch of road in front of the Kuthiran Sastha Temple is the only place where there is no potholes and a bit wider than those leading to this point. Thus this stretch makes it extremely dangerous as Limited Stop buses plying between Trichur and Palghat speed each other to overtake at this point. However, stopping vehicles of devotees, slowing vehicles to throw coins hinder their progress and on two instances I saw near misses. As humps are not allowed on NH roads, for the safety of public, the residents or the panchayat of Kuthiran dig some bigger holes in this particular point so that these buses are forced to slow down. Hope, Police and road transport authorities make a note of this danger, if already not known. As usual, it is better to take a preventive measure rather than to do any after an incident happens. Honourable Ministers of Kerala – Shri Oommen Chandy Adv. V. S. Sivakumar, Shri V.K. Ebrahimkunju Kindly Note and take necessary actions.

തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ പാലക്കാട്‌ ഹൈവെയില്‍ കുതിരാന്‍ കയറ്റത്തില്‍.  ധര്‍മ ശാസ്ത ക്ഷേത്രത്തിനു മുന്നില്‍ മാത്രമാണ് റോഡില്‍ കുണ്ടും കുഴിയും ഇല്ലാത്ത ഏക ഇടം.. ഇവിടെ റോഡിനു വീതി കൂടുതലും ആണ്. ആയതു കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ ഈ റൂട്ടില്‍ ഒട്ടുന്ന ലിമിറ്റഡ് സ്റ്റോപ്പ്‌ പ്രൈവറ്റ് ബസ്സുകള്‍ ഇവിടെ എത്തുമ്പോള്‍, മത്സരിച്ചു കടന്നു പോകാന്‍ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത് കാണാന്‍ ഇടയുണ്ടായി. ഇവിടെ നിര്‍ത്തി അമ്പലത്തില്‍ തൊഴാന്‍ പോകുന്ന വാഹനങ്ങളും, ഇവിടെ സ്ലോ ചെയ്തു പൈസ ഇടാന്‍ വേണ്ടി വേഗത കുറയ്ക്കുന്ന വാഹനങ്ങളും ഈ മത്സര ഓട്ടത്തിന് ഇവര്‍ക്ക് തടസ്സമാകുന്നു. ഒരു അപകടം ആയതിനാല്‍ ഏതു സമയത്തും ഇവിടെ സംഭവിക്കാം. ഒന്നിലോ നാട്ടുകാര്‍. നാഷണല്‍ ഹൈവെയില്‍ ഹമ്പുകള്‍ സാധാരണയായി പാടില്ലാത്തത് കൊണ്ട് ഈ വളവില്‍ ഒന്നോ രണ്ടോ വലിയ കുഴികള്‍ വെട്ടി ഈ വേഗത കുറക്കാന്‍ ഉള്ള നടപടികള്‍ നാട്ടുകാര്‍ ചെയ്‌താല്‍ നന്നായിരിക്കും. പോലീസും അധികാരികളും ഈ മത്സര ഓട്ടത്തെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കാന്‍ ഉള്ള നടപടികള്‍ എടുക്കുന്നത് വരെ ഇത് മാത്രമേ ഒരു സുരക്ഷാ പോംവഴി കാണുന്നുള്ളൂ.
ബഹുമാനപ്പെട്ട കേരള മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി, പൊതുമരാമത്ത് മന്ത്രി, ഗതാഗത വകുപ്പ് മന്ത്രി, എന്നിവര്‍ ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു വേണ്ട നടപടികള്‍ എടുക്കുവാന്‍ അഭ്യര്‍ത്ഥിക്കുന്നു.  ഈ ഭാഗത്തെ ഗതാഗതത്തിന്റെ ഒരു വീഡിയോ താഴെ കാണുന്ന ലിങ്കില്‍ ഇട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. മത്സര ഓട്ടം നേരില്‍ കണ്ട ദൃശ്യങ്ങള്‍ പകര്‍ത്താന്‍ സ്വയം സുരക്ഷ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചു വിടെഒയില്‍ പകര്‍ത്താന്‍ ഉള്ള ശ്രമം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു.
ഈ മത്സര ഓട്ടം പ്രത്യേകിച്ചും കാലത്ത് ഏഴു എട്ടു മണിക്കാണ് കൂടുതല്‍ അപകടകരമായി കണ്ടത്. കാരണം, ചില ബസുകളിലെ കണ്ടക്ടര്‍ ഇവിടെ നാളികേരം ഉടക്കാന്‍ നിര്‍ത്തുകയും (ഏതാനും മിനിട്ടിനുള്ളില്‍ ഇത് നടക്കും – ബസ്‌ സ്പീഡ് കുറയ്ക്കുന്നതും അവര്‍ ഓടി ഇറങ്ങി നാളികേരം ഉടച്ചു തിരിച്ചു കയറും) ആ അവസ്സരം മുതലെടുത്ത്‌ പുറകിലെ ബസ്‌ ഇവരെ മാറി കടക്കും. യാത്രക്കാര്‍ പൈസ ബസ്സില്‍ ഇരുന്നു കൊണ്ട് എറിയുന്നതും അപകടം തന്നെ. കാരണം അതെടുക്കാന്‍ ഒരാള്‍ ഇവിടെ കാന്തം വച്ച വടിയും കൊണ്ട് റോഡില്‍ നടക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. അയാളും ജീവന്‍ പണയം വച്ചുള്ള കളി തന്നെ ആണ് കളിക്കുന്നത്.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Community Reports, Community Service, My videos, TQM.

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services felicitates Sponsors and Volunteers from The Fourth Used Book Festival

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Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services Organized a Ceremony for Sponsors and Volunteers from The Fourth Used Book Festival

His Excellency Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami, Minister of Education, praised Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the United Arab Emirates Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah Emirate, endless efforts to sustain the cultural movement in Sharjah and encouraging the habit of reading.

He also praised the principles and values of the Fourth Used Book Festival, which was organized by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates that aims at providing inclusion, advocacy, and empowerment for people with disabilities under the General Directorship of Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, in march.
The festival was a good opportunity to spread knowledge among people by exchanging used books. It also emphasized the importance of voluntarily work for youth.
H.E. Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami claimed after the honoring of sponsors and volunteers in a ceremony on Wednesday, May 18th “We are blessed with the great care and attention of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the United Arab Emirates Supreme Council and Ruler of the Sharjah Emirate, who has been supporting cultural movements in Sharjah for years. Words cannot describe our feelings when we witness His Excellency Sheikh Sultan take care of each and every little detail that concerns our lives. Nevertheless, This orientation of spreading information and endorsing books has become our responsibility as well. Certainly, this event which was entitled “Treasure of Knowledge” represents so many concepts and values for students and public citizens. Notably, the number of exhibited books and participants has increased enormously in comparison with previous years”. To conclude the speech, Mr. Humaid highly appreciated the nonprofit efforts of SCHS, who is a pioneer in providing inclusion, advocacy, and empowerment for people with disabilities. He also thanked participants and volunteers for dedicating their time and effort to support SCHS’s work.
The Minister of Education was the guest of honor in this ceremony which took place in the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry auditorium in Al Mamzar area. Khalfan Al Shair, a Student in Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training, presented a bouquet of roses for H.E. Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami on arrival. The ceremony then began with the national anthem of United Arab Emirates followed by a blessed recitation from the Holy Quran by Noojod Abdel Rahman, also a student from Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training. Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem, a member of the committee to attract public and private schools to participate in the Fourth Used Book Festival, gave a speech on behalf of SCHS in which she emphasized the importance of the cooperation which led to a successful event.
Organizers, participants, and volunteers were honored to share responsibility for carrying out the cultural event with a great amount of dedication and hard work. The event had many cultural and humanitarian dimensions that allows to gathering of people from different disciplines and goals to come together for an important humanitarian event. Emphasizing the value of books, encouraging the habit of reading, endorsing the concept of voluntarily, and creating an efficient way to raise funds to support SCHS’s nonprofit services, were among the festival’s prime objectives. Volunteers have the greatest role in reaching these goals; they managed to increase the number of exhibited books and participating organizations. Revenues were beyond expectations. A special thanks to those who contributed to the organization of this honoring ceremony, especially the Minister of Education Mr. Humaid Moh’d Al Qutami and to SCHS’s partners who were Sharjah Educational Zone, Youth Centers, and Sharjah Municipality.
To conclude her speech, Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem stated that “We thank the Minister of Education who has been always there for us. With his great heart and good intentions, he has become another advocate for culture and knowledge. His efforts correspond to Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi’s, Member of the United Arab Emirates Supreme Council and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, vision of a modern civilized community.
Participants and volunteers are motivated to do more for society’s advancement by such initiatives. They will work hard in order to make coming events as successful as the previous ones.

Mr. Said Salim El Kabi, Head of Sharjah Educational Zone, then gave a speech on behalf of SCHS’s partners in which he said “I am proud to represent the Fourth Used Book Festival’s sponsors in this ceremony. Certainly, we all heard about such cultural events in foreign and Arab countries, but today we see it as a reality in our country. The credit goes to SCHS who has proven to be a giving humanitarian organization. SCHS has never ceased to amaze us with distinguished projects such as this one. It is a serious attempt to enrich the knowledge of United Arab Emirates citizens and plant the concept of voluntarily work in the mind of youngsters. I thank Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice President of the Sharjah Family Supreme Council and Director General of SCHS, who has a great dedication and loyalty to humanitarian services. We promise to stand next to you in the long path of community development“. To conclude the speech, he thanked his colleagues at Sharjah Educational Zone who are always seeking the best for the community. A short Film about the festival then was put on display. The videotape was filmed by Youth Centers. Finally, the Minister of Education honored sponsors, volunteers, and participating organizations such as public and private schools. A number of schools were rewarded for distinguished contributions such as Khaled bin Mohammed School, Ajman Special School, and others. The student Khalfan Soliman presented a gift to the Minister of Education in a touching gesture of appreciation. The gift was made by SCHS’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Training Department students. The Minister of Education also received a present from the University of Sharjah, which presented another gifts to Mr. Jihad Abdel Qader, Head of SCHS’s Financial Department. Mr. Nasair Draweesh, who was in charge of the Pricing and Classification Committee, presented the ceremony’s program.

This entry was posted in Community Service, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services – a brief of recent activities

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This entry was posted in Community Service, My videos, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

A welcome change – Promising actions by Abu Dhabi authorities

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A welcome change – Promising actions by Abu Dhabi authorities

It is always a relief to see when the authorities carries pro-active measures towards suggestion for a better living environment. Here is one such example of a speedier action by Abu Dhabi authorities. Further to my Community Report in Gulf News dated 23rd April, I am happy to blog that both the dangerous spots have been marked clearly giving sufficient warning for pedestrians. What is left is a garbage bin issue, and I believe it will be also handled efficiently soon.

My sincere thanks to GULF NEWS and Abu Dhabi authorities.

Ramesh Menon
29.04.2011

To read my community report of 23.04.2011, please click here or visit GULF NEWS online.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Community Reports, Community Service, Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, TQM.

Dangers to shoppers and residents – Commuity Report – Gulf News Dt. 23.04.2011

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Dangers to shoppers and residents – Commuity Report – Gulf News Dt. 23.04.2011

Dangers to shoppers and residents

Iron rods on the pavement, uncovered openings and an overflowing dustbin near a mall

Text and Picture by Ramesh Menon, Gulf News Reader Published: 00:00 April 23, 2011

The Tourist Club Area (TCA) is a prime tourist, office and residential spot in Abu Dhabi.

Apart from the numerous office establishments, the shopping mall in the area has a good collection of eateries and entertainment and thus attracts many visitors each day.

It is therefore important to keep the surrounding areas neat, clean and safe for all those who visit it.

The most dangerous thing I have found in the area is a set of iron rods projecting out of the pavement near the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal in front of the mall.

Several elderly residents walk along this route and an accident could happen at any time.

The section nearer to the mall has uncovered openings, which is another cause for worry.

Adding to all these problems is a dustbin, which is usually full and causes surrounding areas to get dirty because the cleaning staff from nearby buildings dump waste materials on the floor near it before depositing the content one by one into the bin’s small mouth.

They do it every morning and this makes the area dirty the entire day.

Through this community report, I humbly request the authorities to tidy up this area as soon as possible.

— The reader is a technical officer based in Abu Dhabi

Be a citizen reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Write to us and send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com

To read this in original, please visit GULF NEWS online

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Community Reports, Community Service, Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Opinion 2011.

A Unique Weight loss Fundraiser : Lose to GAIN by Manzil

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A Unique Weight loss Fundraiser : Lose to GAIN by Manzil

Manzil is launching a unique Weight loss Fundraiser. The concept is to “Lose 2 Gain” which will be a collective fundraiser, open to all who want to lose weight. Participants will enrol in the competition and will have their team of supporters who will back them up with donation pledges for kilo they lose. So instead of one winner and a bunch of losers, what is unique about this competition is that, regardless of who loses how much, everyone is helping to benefit the larger cause. While it may be a personal goal for many of the participants, the larger goal that will have them signing up and keep them motivated is the money they are raising for charity.
We would really appreciate your participation in any form & support this cause.
Please pass on the campaign details to your family & friends.

Campaign for Corporates:

Campaign for Public

Please pass on the campaign details to your family & friends.

This entry was posted in Community Service, Manzil.

Lectures on Down Syndrome organised by SCHS’s Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training

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Lectures on Down Syndrome organised by SCHS’s Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates celebrates World Down Syndrome Day on the 21st of March every year.

This date (21/3) is symbolic for the 3 copies of chromosome 21, unique to people with Down Syndrome. The aim of the World Down Syndrome Day celebration is to promote awareness, understanding, seek international support, and to achieve dignity, equal rights, and a better life for people with Down Syndrome globally.
SCHS’s Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training organized two lectures by Dr. Latifah Rashed, Nutritionist at Al Qasimi Hospital, and Dr. Eman Kashef, a Social Worker from Egypt, at Sharjah Supreme Family Council on Monday, March 21st.
Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem, Head of SCHS’s Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training, introduced lecturers to the audience. In her introduction, Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem emphasized that, “Actions speak louder than words. Therefore, all institutes should work together in order to improve the lives of people with Down Syndrome”.

 

Dr. Latifah began the lecture by stating that genes that obtain an extra copy of chromosome 21 are responsible for all characteristics associated with Down Syndrome. Normally, each human cell contains 23 pairs of different chromosomes. Each chromosome carries genes, which are needed for proper development and maintenance of our bodies. At conception, an individual inherits 23 chromosomes from the mother (through the egg cell) and 23 chromosomes from the father (through the sperm cell). However, sometimes a person inherits an extra chromosome from one of the parents. In Down Syndrome, an individual most often inherits two copies of chromosome 21 from the mother and one chromosome 21 from the father for a total of three chromosomes. Down Syndrome is caused by the inheritance of three chromosomes 21, the disorder is also called trisomy 21. About 95% of individuals with Down Syndrome inherit an entire extra chromosome 21. The lecturer added that babies with Down Syndrome may be very challenging to breastfeed. It takes a great deal of patience to teach the baby to suck properly (and strongly) to obtain a milk ejection reflex and to stimulate your milk supply. For these babies, it is recommended that you begin by hand-expressing your breast to start the milk flow and hold the breast firmly so that the nipple doesn’t slip out of the baby’s mouth. It is also critical that you give good support to the head, jaw, and body of a baby with Down Syndrome, as they display general body hypotonia, or low-tone. If you prop the baby firmly with a pillow in your lap or use a sling baby carrier, you will have a hand available to hold the baby’s jaw and your breast. It may take a few days to familiarize yourself to this technique, but once you’ve got a position that you’re both comfortable with, stick with it!
Dr. Latifah concluded the lecture by saying that children with Down Syndrome are more likely than their unaffected siblings to have higher levels of a hormone associated with obesity, according to pediatric researchers. The hormone, leptin, may contribute to the known higher risk of obesity among children and adults with Down Syndrome. Therefore, parents should pay particular attention to their nutrition and health.
In the second lecture, Dr. Eman said that for children and adults with Down Syndrome, social understanding is usually a strength, beginning with infancy. Many of the cues which indicate how someone is feeling are non-verbal, for example, tone of voice, facial expression and body posture, so that even when a child or adult does not understand all the spoken language being used in a social situation they are still able to pick up the main messages about feelings and behave in an appropriate way, despite the delays in their development of spoken language skills. This has led a number of authors to emphasize the agreeable social skills, empathy and social competence of most children and adults with Down Syndrome. They tend to have better social understanding and social behavior than other children with similar levels of cognitive and communication delay and this can help them to be successful in community activities and in an inclusive education.
Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates who aims at providing education, advocacy, and independence for people with disabilities under the General Directorship of Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. To know more about it, please visit http://http://www.schs.ae/

This entry was posted in Community Service, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services Celebrates World Down Syndrome Day

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Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services Celebrates World Down Syndrome Day

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services Celebrates World Down Syndrome Day

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates celebrates World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March every year.
This date (21/3) is symbolic for the 3 copies of chromosome 21, unique to people with Down syndrome. The aim of the World Down Syndrome Day celebration is to promote awareness, understanding, seek international support, and to achieve dignity, equal rights, and a better life for people with Down syndrome globally.
SCHS’s Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training decided to organize activities during the week of 21/3. Activities include sports at Al Thiqa Club for the Handicapped and Sharjah Ladies Club in which SCHS’s Down Syndrome students will participate. On Monday, March 21st, Dr. Latifah Rashied, Nutritionist at Al Qasimi Hospital, will provide a lecture to mothers of Down Syndrome children regarding healthy food. In addition, Dr. Eman Kashif, a Social Worker from Egypt, will provide a lecture regarding socialization in relation to Down Syndrome.
On Tuesday, 22nd, Dr. Eman will provide consultation to mothers of Down Syndrome children in private sessions. The sessions will take place in Parents of the Disabled Association. The week will be concluded by 24 of SCHS’s Down Syndrome students participating in a football match between Sharjah team and Al Ain team. Students from SCHS will accompany players when entering the field. The match is sponsored by National Soil Investigation and Bldg Materials Lab, Al-Romaizan for Gold & Jewellery, Al Thiqa Club for the Handicapped, and Parents of the Disabled Association.
Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem, Head of SCHS’s Al Wafaa School for Developmental Training, considers this celebration a reminder of the importance of providing community assistance to this community. After all, it is a joint responsibility. She advices experts who work in hospitals and private clinics of the importance of benefitting the public in a scientifically positive fashion. They should focus on the mothers who have given birth to Down Syndrome babies in order to avoid trauma and its negative effects. This is to be done by giving parents accurate information about the condition of their infants. The positive effects of early intervention should be emphasized as well. Specialists must work diligently in order to help parents overcome this difficult time.
Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem mentioned that the vital role of the community in raising Down Syndrome children with in a strong familial environment. The initial acceptance into society for children with Down Syndrome should begin with the medical crew who should try to instill the importance of parents accepting their child’s condition. The next step is to provide families with accurate and up to date information regarding the Down Syndrome. Parents should be aware of the significance that early intervention and a proper education can do to improve the quality of life for a child with Down Syndrome . These children need a great amount of care and passion. In this way they will develop socially, emotionally, and linguistically. In addition, they will learn how to become more independent. Moreover, the members of the community must respect the feelings of these families. The general view towards the disabled has become better over time due to the cooperation between various institutions.
Children with down syndrome tend to be compassionate and obedient, and often allows for much of the community to be compassionate towards them. If they receive the proper attention, they have the capability to learn. “Our children are persistent, innovative, and capable when the circumstances are optimal” said Mrs. Mona Abdel Kareem.
She advised mothers of the disabled not to be remorseful or embarrassed by their children. They should educate themselves by reading books and surfing the net for the latest information about Down Syndrome. Creating and maintaining communication with other families that have Down Syndrome children is very important in lessening the psychological burden imposed by disability. Recent researches show the social and psychological characteristics of children with Down Syndrome prove that children with Down Syndrome are often social, tender, merry, and have repetitive mannerisms. They are shy in front of visitors.
Individuals with Down syndrome may vary significantly in terms of physical and psychological characteristics. The list of possible characteristics however should not obscure two important facts: clearly individuals with Down syndrome are first and foremost people who have similar needs, desires, and rights as others; and, the effects of intensive interventions with young Down Syndrome children are only now being evaluated, but also making many historical descriptions of Down Syndrome no longer accurate. Some of the physical characteristics observed in persons with Down Syndrome include the following: the back of the head is often flattened, the eyelids may be slightly slanted, small skin folds at the inner corners of the eyes may be present, the nasal bridge is slightly depressed, and the nose and ears are usually somewhat smaller. In the newborn there is often an excess of skin at the back of the neck. The hands and feet are small and the fingerprints are often different from chromosomally normal children. Individuals with Down syndrome have loose ligaments and their muscle strength and tone are usually reduced. If the ligaments between the first two neck bones are loose, there may be a condition referred to as Atlanto-Axial Instability. About one-third of children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease. Other congenital defects such as blockage in the bowels and cataracts, although rare, may also be present. Hearing deficits, visual problems, and thyroid dysfunction are also often observed in persons with Down syndrome.
Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is a non-profit organization located in the United Arab Emirates who aims at providing education, advocacy, and independence for people with disabilities under the General Directorship of Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. To know more about it, please visit http://http://www.schs.ae/

This entry was posted in Community Service, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

Support is needed for non-profit community initiatives – Community Report – Gulf News Dt. 19.03.2011

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Community Report – Gulf News Dt. 19.03.2011 – Support is needed for non-profit community initiatives

The success of the Fourth Used Book Fair in Sharjah could have been even more far-reaching with help from sponsors and volunteers, reader says.

The recently concluded Fourth Used Book Fair in Sharjah, organised by the City for Humanitarian Services, calls for several interesting observations.
The intensive presence of visitors from day one of the fair was highly motivational to volunteers, who dedicated a lot of time and effort to make the event a success.
Visiting the fair and keenly following the activities showed that events of  this nature do not normally generate generous sponsors and sponsorships from organisations. They usually come forward to donate gifts and memorabilia in abundance when events involve film actors or other celebrities.
It was wonderful to see volunteers forgetting their physical challenges, carrying books to numerous stalls and neatly displaying them for sale. They were found competing with each other to showcase their skills in generating revenue for their own cause.
I wish major organisations take a cue from the collective efforts of the organisers of this event and the volunteers who made it a success and support them in the future by coming forward without hesitation in every possible way.

In addition, I feel a strong need by the respectable authorities to initiate a nominal ‘Social Service Contribution’ of say 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent on ticket costs for events that have a high expense. This could then be made a mandatory distribution to an established charity fund.

The fund could then be allocated proportionately and utilised for the day-to-day running of various charity institutions and organisations within the UAE, who are genuinely in need of more support. This way, everyone will become contributors to humanitarian causes, willingly or not.

It would also be a good idea to complement the effort of these charity organisations by providing them reduction in charges on utility services like telephones, electricity and water bills.

– The reader is a technical officer based in Abu Dhabi

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To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS Online.

This entry was posted in Clicks and writes, Community Reports, Community Service, Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Opinion 2011.