Five thousand Dubai labourers will be given packages of food and other essential items this weekend as part of a charity project.
The Ramadan Care Packages event takes place this weekend to coincide with Ramadan 19 and Emirati Humanitarian Work Day on Sunday, held in memory of Sheikh Zayed, the founding President of the UAE.
Saher Sheikh, a former investment banker and founder of Adopt-a-Camp, said the group hoped to provide packages to 5,000 labourers at a camp in Dubai Investment Park, with the help of 9,000 volunteers.
Care packages include three months’ of toiletries, one month’s food and other basic items such as bedding, clothes, plates and energy drinks.
“We talk to the men, that way we are able to give them what they need the most,” said Ms Sheikh.
She said Adopt-a-Camp worked with labour camps that treated workers well but she wanted to give them a mother’s care, and a fresh start.
“We want the best for the men, just as we would for our children,” she said. “It’s a great community event and people here are very kind. We get everyone from CEOs to workers from other camps volunteering.
“But we’re trying to help these men all year round and the more help we can get, the more we can give,” Ms Sheikh added.
Adopt-a-Camp works throughout the year, providing hygiene workshops, counselling, scholarships and arranging free medical, optical and dental treatment.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has joined Adopt-a-Camp for a third year as part of its Dubai Chamber Ramadan Festival at Dubai World Trade Centre.
[ halbustani@thenational.ae ]
