By Shahlaa Ahmed
MORE than 900 food packages have been distributed to poor families in Djibouti by a group of volunteers from Bahrain.
The Ayadi Relief Organisation delivered the aid during a three-day visit, which was the charity’s second to the country.
Members including 15 Bahrainis, a Saudi and an Omani delivered staple food supplies such as rice, flour, oil and sugar.
The visit coincided with the official launch of wells that have been dug using financial assistance provided by the organisation.
‘Most of the participants travelled to many countries over the world, but told me that they never felt the happiness they felt during our trip in Djibouti,’ said founding member and board member Raja Khalifa.
‘The reason is simply because people feel happy when they are able to make the people around them happy or help them in the simplest way.
‘This kind of journey also makes them appreciate the blessings that they have after seeing how poor people in Djibouti are.
‘We distributed more than 900 food packages to poor families in three villages and also visited three schools, including a school that is being built with donations from our association in Rahma village.
‘One of the best moments we spent was in Ali Subaih School, as we planned a full-day entertainment programme for the children.
‘We brought beads and threads for one of the classes and asked children to make accessories out of them.
‘They wore the accessories they made and did not even want to take them off.
‘The good thing was that we were able to communicate with them because they are taught Quran and Arabic.’
Another programme involved students painting their playground blue using equipment donated by the society.
Bahraini volunteer Shaikha Showaiter was in tears as she described her feelings during the trip.
‘I was lost before my trip to Djibouti,’ she said. ‘We have so many blessings in our life while they don’t have anything.
‘We travelled for hours between one village to another and they walk to the capital Djibouti just to find some food.
‘I sometimes wonder what they would do or how they would survive if not for the donations. People live in huts, which look like cemeteries from far away.
‘The weather is also extremely hot, which made us thank God after leaving every village, but those poor people live there.
‘Their life is similar to how Bedouins lived long ago.
‘I can certainly say that there is a famine over there, especially for those who live is desert area.’
Seven Bahraini volunteers have also visited Somalia on a four-day mission to distribute more than 900 packages to poor families.
Source: Gulf Daily News
