Teaching kids about the meaning of Ramadan
Ramadan Kareem, mamas! Whether we are fasting ourselves or respecting the holy month and all it entails, we all share the joy of giving during Ramadan. The Sassy Mama Dubai team has scoured the city to discover the different ways we can give back to the community over the month ahead (and teach the littles about kindness in the process, of course!).
Are you handy with a sewing machine, Mama? If so, Dubai-based initiative Rags to Riches is looking for ladies to volunteer for an hour or so every week, turning unwanted dress fabrics, blankets, and bed linen into clothing for needy children. Not so crafty? You can still support the team by donating materials, such as fabric, lace, and zippers. Get in touch to find out what they currently need!
Email rags2richesdubai@yahoo.co.uk or ‘Like’ the Facebook Page.
We all love reading books to our little ones, which is why we are big supporters of this year’s ‘Reading Nation’ initiative. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has made an appeal to donate books to millions of underprivileged children living in different parts of the world through this year’s campaign – and donating is as simple as sending an SMS!
SMS “read” to 9030 to donate 3 books (AED 30) or to 9900 to donate 90 books (AED 900)
Did you know that just one pint of blood can save up to five lives? But sadly stocks plummet dangerously low during Ramadan, whilst demand increases by the day. If you are a non-fasting adult in good health, consider donating at the Dubai Blood Donation Centre to help restock those in need.
Call 04 219 3221 or visit www.dha.gov.ae
It’s hard to keep kids active during the summer months, right mamas? And for families on very low incomes, it is even harder to keep the younger family members fit, healthy and active when the thermometer is soaring. This is why Emirates Red Crescent Society will be providing sports and activities to over 100 children from low-income families by offering free summer camp places for kids aged 8-16 years old. They need support to make it happen and are currently looking for corporate sponsors to increase the number of spaces. So if you are a working mama with connections, why not make it happen?
Visit www.boost.ae, email info@boost.ae or call 0565624721
There are few better ways to give back during the hot summer months than by joining ‘The Sameness Project’, who organise mass hand-outs of cold water to workers outside in the heat. The initiative is taking a pause for Ramadan for obvious reasons, but will be back soon afterwards with another ‘Water for Workers’ drive – so the holy month is the perfect time to visit their website, follow their social media pages, and volunteer for future hand-outs. And once you’re involved, the kids will love handing out kindness as much as you do!
Visit www.thesamenessproject.com and ‘Like’ the Facebook Page
Unwanted food left over from Iftars, weddings, or family dinners? No need to waste it, Mamas! Donate your leftovers to the Royati Family Society, who will collect and distribute the food amongst the needy. And there’s no need to stop after Ramadan either, as this is a year-round service! We just wish we’d known about it earlier!
Call 05 0273 2831
Get the family involved in filling shoe boxes this Ramadan with #ShoeBoxLove2016! Pick up your flat pack boxes from one of two locations, build them into a box, and fill them with essential items to bring a smile to the face of labourers, window cleaners, street cleaners, and anyone else braving the heat this Ramadan. Boxes might include small bottles of water, tinned food, dates, rainbow milk, coffee, noodles, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, vimto, disposable razors – and most importantly (which must be included in every box) a phone card for Du or Etisalat for AED 20. Let your kids get creative on the box itself and drop it back to the same location – and voila, an act of kindness you know will be fully appreciated and used!
Pick up/Drop off boxes at The Change Initiative (Al Basrha 1 Sheikh Zayed Road) or Inspire Yoga Studio (T & G Avenue Building, Indigo Central 8 Sheikh Zayed Road). Visit www.baembu.me.
Whether you have a bump or a baby, a subscription to Mama’s Box is the perfect way to navigate mummyhood! Packed with useful items to match your stage in pregnancy or your baby’s age, you’ll love receiving and unpacking the treasures inside every month. And here’s the best bit, as 100% of profits will be donated to those in need this Ramadan. Get ordering Mamas!
Order at www.mamas-box.com
Struggling to fill these hot afternoons, mama? Look no further than the Love 2 Give Camp at Kids HQ, the combined force of Talents HQ and Big On Children – which is running Sunday through Thursday until 30 June between 2.30pm – 5.30pm. Little camp members will learn the value of giving back to the community by donating their pre-loved toys, books, and clothes when they attend the camp – and these will be distributed amongst those in need! What a fab concept!
From AED 230 per day / AED 950 per week. Call 04 379 4233 to book.
Us mamas love the convenience of CROCS for our kids, whilst our little ones love the cool designs – but this Ramadan, we’ll be crossing our fingers and hoping we win in the brand’s #givingwithcrocs competition, so that those less fortunate can enjoy their very own pair too. All we need to do is send a “crocsfie” (that’s a photo of our crocs for those feeling baffled) to the app on the brand’s Facebook page during Ramadan, whilst specifying who we’d like to gift a pair of crocs to (whether that’s the security guard in your building, the guy that washes your car, or somebody else that wouldn’t usually be able to afford a pair) and the brand will be picking winners and gifting shoes throughout the holy month!
Upload your “Crocsfie” on the CROCS Ramadan Facebook App.
Dogs truly are man’s best friend, so why not spread a little love amongst the least fortunate of our canine buddies this Ramadan by stepping up to volunteer at K9 Friends? The shelter offers numerous ways to help, including volunteering in the kennels, helping with administration, and getting involved in fundraising. You just need to be over the age of 16 years old and prepared to commit to at least 6 months. We can’t wait for the cuddles!
We’re all mamas – and the fact that children in developing countries don’t always have access to an education is something we would all like to change. Help to make that change that this Ramadan by making a donation to Dubai Cares. Launched in 2007 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the charity works to guarantee primary education and promote gender equality amongst children the world over.
We love the concept of Ramadan/Sharing Fridges, which have sprung up all over Dubai this Ramadan. Placed in easily accessible areas, the idea is that less fortunate community workers can help themselves to a nice cold drink and snack to break their fast at Iftar. Head over to the Facebook page for more information and a list of fridge locations, mamas – and then take the kiddos to the supermarket to stock up on food and drink along the lines of laban, juice, fruit, biriyani meals, samosas and yogurt, cookies.
For a full list of locations, join the Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/uaefridges
Treat your kids to some new toys this Ramadan at Klug Educational Toys and Play and the company will donate 10% of every sale to the UAE Red Crescent! The store is located in The Village Mall on Beach Road (or you shop online if you prefer browsing from your sofa!) – and the company are also encouraging little customers to bring in unwanted toys, which they will wrap and give to the charity alongside the donations! What better excuse do we need to shop?
Visit www.klugstores.com – or visit the store at The Village Mall, Ground Floor, Shop 18, Jumeirah Beach Road (04 344 7755).
Fancy a little online shopping, mamas? Make a purchase at virginmegastore.ae this Ramadan and the company would like you to hold onto the box the item is delivered in. You can then fill it with donations to the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, with suggestions including pre-loved baby, toddler and children clothing and toys, feeding and safety accessories, women’s clothes and accessories and electronics. Once the box is full, download the Fetchr app (from the App Store or Google Play), request a delivery, and use the promo code PAYITFORWARD to obtain a free pick-up. Or just drop off the repackaged boxes at any Virgin Megastore in the UAE!
Visit virginmegastore.ae
The ZB Foundation has teamed up with North Carolina Dental Practice During the month of Ramadan – book a teeth cleaning treatment for AED 225 (normally AED 400) for you or your little ones and the full amount will be given to The ZB Foundation in order to support their mission to provide New Born Screening Tests for all babies born in Pakistan.
