Abu Dhabi flea market aims to raise Dh40,000 for Kenya's slum children

The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort on the Corniche will host the indoor market at its Arzanah Ballroom on March 9.

A second hand market in Abu Dhabi hopes to raise up to Dh40,000 to benefit more than 75 children at a Kibera slum in Kenya.

On March 9, the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort on the Corniche will host the indoor market at its Arzanah Ballroom from 9am to 2pm.

It has partnered with "Impoverished Children", a non-profit charity that supports community-based orphanages and schools in the Kiberan slums. Its programmes provide education and resources in water and sanitation, food, medical education and treatment, counselling, and education of children and teacher training.

"We are very excited and proud to support another international charity organisation in Africa," said Martina Venus, the hotel's public relations director. "We have seen the enormous impact we made in Arusha and decided to do the same to this orphanage and school."

Last year, the event supported the Glorious Orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania, where a team delivered goods, clothes, funds for school and uniforms, and food bags for families.

The flea market will raise money through table fees and donations from some of the exhibitors. A team will be sent to Kenya with donations of goods and cash to be spent on necessities for the children.

Ninety tables will be selling unused hotel items and unwanted and second-hand electronics, clothes, accessories, small pieces of furniture and children's toys. So far, 73 tables have been filled. A table booking includes two chairs and is available for Dh250.

One stall will be run by Feel Great Helping, a group in Abu Dhabi that supports charities, which is participating for the third time.

"We decided to make the charity flea market a regular activity as it gives people who don't have time to volunteer the opportunity to feel good by contributing items they no longer need," said Babs Klijn, the group's founder. "All the proceeds are used for charitable projects and all the volunteers give their time for free."

Previous flea markets organised by the Sheraton raised more than Dh150,000 for local and international charity organisations. Exhibitors can reserve a table by calling 02 6773333 or emailing [e-mail].