(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A GROUP of young Bahraini women have been on an annual mission to serve the community during Ramadan. The 'For Bahrain' charity drive was launched three years ago by eight school friends, all aged in their early 20s.
Since then they have been volunteering their time, efforts and resources to help needy families during the month.
The women are equally involved in collecting money from family members, friends and colleagues or by personally donating.
Once the money is collected, group members dedicate a few days to buy a list of essential Ramadan food items from hypermarkets.
"We keep a record of our expenses, since we understand that we are entrusted with the money donated to us," said Fatima Fuad.
The grocery items are then packed in boxes.
During the first year, the group was able to distribute 70 boxes, then the number increased to 160 in the second and to 237 in the third.
"We aim to double the number every year. However, we do face problems such as shortage of volunteers, transportation of items as we use our personal cars to distribute the boxes and a lack of working space since we use friends' homes to fill the boxes," said Ms Fuad.
Food items distributed include rice, oil, flour, sugar, salt, pasta, beans and tuna.
"Over the years, this programme allowed us to see how inflation affects prices of food items and how difficult it is to live day-to-day for the unfortunate with the rising prices," said Ms Fuad, a medical student.
Ramadan boxes are either supplied to familiar residential areas or delivered to charity organisations as they are familiar with the less fortunate families, she added.
The group is also looking to give out boxes to labourers who are desperately in need.
"We are always looking for fair ways to distribute the boxes to those most in need, while at the same time avoiding racial bias," said Lamya Bushehri, an accountant.
"We also check with families about the items that they need the most and are the hardest for them to buy."
Other members of the group include architect Sara Abdulla, graphic design and business student Fatima Al Khan, finance and account student Reem Al Khateeb and management science student Ameena Al Shirawi.
This is in addition to interior design student Mariam Al Awadhi and art administration student Dana Al Aseeri.
The group is also planning to officially register with the Social Development Ministry.
The group now hopes to attract the youth of Bahrain to be more involved with charity work as they are continuously in need of more volunteers.
"We made it an annual thing encouraging our siblings, cousins and younger friends to join in because involving the youth is our goal," said Ms Abdulla.
"We were just a small group of high school friends starting a small project and now we are expanding every year. If we can do it, other young girls and boys can do it too."
The idea behind establishing the group came from the group members being touched and inspired by a Ramadan food drive experience they had back in high school when they visited the homes of the poor.
"We are grateful to all those who have helped us and would like to give special thanks to secondary school students Noora and Ebrahim Fuad who willingly help us every year," said Ms Bushehri.
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Since then they have been volunteering their time, efforts and resources to help needy families during the month.
The women are equally involved in collecting money from family members, friends and colleagues or by personally donating.
Once the money is collected, group members dedicate a few days to buy a list of essential Ramadan food items from hypermarkets.
"We keep a record of our expenses, since we understand that we are entrusted with the money donated to us," said Fatima Fuad.
The grocery items are then packed in boxes.
During the first year, the group was able to distribute 70 boxes, then the number increased to 160 in the second and to 237 in the third.
"We aim to double the number every year. However, we do face problems such as shortage of volunteers, transportation of items as we use our personal cars to distribute the boxes and a lack of working space since we use friends' homes to fill the boxes," said Ms Fuad.
Food items distributed include rice, oil, flour, sugar, salt, pasta, beans and tuna.
"Over the years, this programme allowed us to see how inflation affects prices of food items and how difficult it is to live day-to-day for the unfortunate with the rising prices," said Ms Fuad, a medical student.
Ramadan boxes are either supplied to familiar residential areas or delivered to charity organisations as they are familiar with the less fortunate families, she added.
The group is also looking to give out boxes to labourers who are desperately in need.
"We are always looking for fair ways to distribute the boxes to those most in need, while at the same time avoiding racial bias," said Lamya Bushehri, an accountant.
"We also check with families about the items that they need the most and are the hardest for them to buy."
Other members of the group include architect Sara Abdulla, graphic design and business student Fatima Al Khan, finance and account student Reem Al Khateeb and management science student Ameena Al Shirawi.
This is in addition to interior design student Mariam Al Awadhi and art administration student Dana Al Aseeri.
The group is also planning to officially register with the Social Development Ministry.
The group now hopes to attract the youth of Bahrain to be more involved with charity work as they are continuously in need of more volunteers.
"We made it an annual thing encouraging our siblings, cousins and younger friends to join in because involving the youth is our goal," said Ms Abdulla.
"We were just a small group of high school friends starting a small project and now we are expanding every year. If we can do it, other young girls and boys can do it too."
The idea behind establishing the group came from the group members being touched and inspired by a Ramadan food drive experience they had back in high school when they visited the homes of the poor.
"We are grateful to all those who have helped us and would like to give special thanks to secondary school students Noora and Ebrahim Fuad who willingly help us every year," said Ms Bushehri.
/129