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Shopping destinations across the kingdom are getting into the spirit of the holy month and are urging people to join their charitable campaigns and activities.
Majid Al Futtaim’s City Centre Bahrain has once again launched its annual Make a Difference initiative, in partnership with the Bahrain Islamic Association.
Shoppers can contribute used clothes, books, toys and non-perishable food items in special donation boxes placed at the mall’s Central Galleria on the ground floor, behind the main customer service desk. All the items will then be passed on through the charity’s distribution channels.
Duaij Khalifa Al Rumaihi, City Centre Bahrain’s senior mall manager, said: “Ramadan is a time to reflect, give back and spend time with family, friends and loved ones in the spirit of togetherness. City Centre Bahrain will be there throughout the month with themed décor, activities, entertainment and opportunities to give to those in need.”
The mall also helped people break their fast on Monday in its Ifatr Sae’m (faster) initiative with meals being delivered to labour camps.
Families coming to the mall to donate from May 31 to June 6, can visit a ‘Build a Bear’ activation booth too. Children will be able to drop their donations on a conveyor belt, while learning more about Ramadan values through animated screens, and, will receive a ‘thank you’ teddy bear.
On May 30, the mall will host its annual Gergaoun celebrations with traditional games, songs, mascots and Gergaoun ‘goodie bags’.
The Avenues-Bahrain, in collaboration with the Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS), has also launched a campaign aimed towards raising funds for providing provisions and rations for families in need of food all over the world.
An ‘End Their Hunger’ campaign encourages people to donate by participating in an artistic activation stand placed at The Grand Avenue, near Gate 3 – The Bay Gate. Visitors will receive a white plate as a gift for donating BD5 or more, which they can decorate and paint on. If BD50 or more is donated, then people can choose a specially painted plate from one of six local artists - Mohamed Taha, Mohamed Bahrain, Hussain Isa, Ali Al Fardan, Yasser Al Dehi and Daweya Ebrahim - participating in the initiative.
Dr Fawzi Abdulla Ameen, BRCS general secretary, said: “We appreciate all the support we can get as we are focusing on helping to end hunger for those living in the kingdom and abroad such as in the Philippines and Bangladesh. We support 4,000 families in Bahrain every Ramadan and also throughout the year.
“The funds will be used to cover the cost of a 22kg package which includes all the main grocery items for Ramadan such as rice, sugar and oil.”
Oasis Malls in Muharraq and East Riffa has launched The Clothes for Compassion campaign supporting the Al Sanabel Orphans Care Society. The society will donate clothes in support of the people of Somalia, Syria and Iraq.
Dragon City in Diyar Al Muharraq is hosting a Recycle & Build activity in its Centre Court. Shoppers can participate in making empty boxes into the structure of a traditional Bahraini house. In this way, materials that would have otherwise gone to waste will instead be used to build an artistic communal project.
Tickets to participate can be obtained from Dragon City tenants with the activity open every day from 7pm to 11pm.
