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Thousands of expatriates thronged the National Stadium car park in Riffa at the weekend to show their support and gratitude to the kingdom they call home.
They were joined by local families keen to mingle with their neighbours from afar with all the fun of the fair.
Thank You Bahrain organised by the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) believe around 40,000 people attended the event, which ran from the early afternoon until late in the evening.
Funds raised will be used to launch a residential sanctuary offering legal, medical and emotional support to expatriates in need.
A grand raffle boasting a variety of prizes including a car, airline tickets and electrical goods, helped boost the takings for the shelter initiative launched by the BFEA.
Betsy Mathieson, BFEA secretary general and organising committee president, said: “There has been such a buzz all over the island about this wonderful event and it has been fantastic to see it all come together.
“Not only are we raising money for a new shelter to help expats in need but we have brought together the expat community and the Bahraini community.I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported this event.”
She made special mention of Nass Scaffolding for creating an open-air theatre able to house 3,500 supporters.
The organisers were also full of praise for the support shown by Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who attended the event.
It was held under his patronage and was one of the many community spectaculars leading up to the kingdom’s National Day celebrations.
The event featured school performances, live music from Pakistani pop singer Humaira Arshad, camel and pony rides and a special souq for local entrepreneurs to showcase their handicrafts, produce and accessories.
Embassies, consulates, ministries, universities, schools, churches, clubs and societies also had stalls at the event for people to visit highlighting their history, achievements and services.
British Ambassador Iain Lindsay chatted with visitors at the large British Embassy stand to draw attention to the upcoming GREAT British Week.
Ambassador Lindsay said: “We are very pleased with the BFEA for enabling us to have a pavilion at the Thank You Bahrain event. We took part in it last year with a big pavilion and we set up another one this year.
“The imagery in our stand was absolutely stunning and combined the best of British with the best of Bahrain, which is what really Great British Week is meant to be. Being at this event was an opportunity for us to let people know that GREAT British Week is coming up, to grab people’s imagination and to get them interested in it. Our website is going to be up-and-running shortly with details of the events we will be having and we have more coming.”
Amongst the many visitors, Mike and Shirley Johnson enjoyed tucking into the tasty treats at the Chinese Embassy stand while also soaking up the different cultures on show.
Mike, an accountant from Juffair, said: “We love Bahrain and have been living here for nearly 10 years. This proved to be a very multi-cultural and educational event and we have learned a lot.”
Alongside foreign embassies, ministries were also on hand to answer any questions. The Ministry of Health had members of its nutrition section checking on the weight and height of visitors as well as sharing dieting tips.
Ali Alaradi, from the Ministry of Health, said: “We have a lot of projects and topics that cover the nutritional needs of the community. We are passing out booklets about healthy meals for children, pregnant women and the benefits of vitamins. It’s good for people to be informed.”
Parents also had the opportunity to meet up with principals and representatives from different schools in Bahrain.
Ramy El Karamani, a teacher and coach, from Jid Hafs, attended the event with his wife Jailan to learn more about the kingdom as well as find a school for his two-and-a-half year old son, Ahmed.
Mr El Karamani said: “I have only been in Bahrain for a year and-a-half and it’s the first time I have ever seen anything like this. It gives me a chance to see what Bahrain is all about.
“Also, I am on the lookout for the best school for my son. I hear about these schools all the time but never get the chance to visit them. It’s great to have them all under one roof.
“It’s a great idea to have an event like this to show our love and support for the kingdom.”
The Bahrain School, for example, was delighted with the response its stand generated. Principal Stephanie El Sayed said: “This was a fabulous event and allowed organisations to share information so that people know about all the opportunities that are available here.”
The Thank You Bahrain initiative has been so well received by the community that its organisers are now considering staging it annually over two days and developing a series of sister events every six to eight weeks in support of the shelter funding campaign.
Interested individuals or groups are being urged to step forward with ideas by checking out the upcoming events with BFEA by following www.thankyoubh.com or @BetsyBBahrain on Twitter.
