In the spirit of giving back, 12 toddlers prepared food bags and joined 50 blue-collar women in Dubai for iftar on the first day of Ramadan.
The four year olds, who attend Kids World Nursery in Dubai, prepared goody bags consisting of sandwiches, dates and other food items, and gathered with the women at the EFS Facilities blue-collar training centre for iftar.
The first-time initiative, aimed to foster a sense of social responsibility, empathy and care by involving the children in the process of giving back to the community.
“We find it incredibly important for children to understand that the world does not revolve around their needs, that they should always consider the needs and desires of others around them. This is the reason we provide children with opportunities to express empathy, as it requires practice up until the point it becomes second nature,” said Lovita Tariq, Director of Kids World Nursery.
She pointed out the initiative was led to recognise the bravery of the blue-collar woman of Dubai for having to make the most difficult decision as a mother of leaving one’s family.
“We thought it would be lovely for the children to interact with, share food and have genuine conversations with these women, who spend the majority of the month of Ramadan alone,” said Tariq.
The children, who took part in the cause, come from different backgrounds including Brazilian, Chinese, Filipino, Pakistani, African and Indian.
The 50 women, aged between 25 and 35 years old, were also from a range of nationalities including India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. “Most of them have young children in their home countries, and much of their free time is spent calling home, with most of their conversations, their rooms and phones full of images and memories of their children,” said Tariq.
Empathy and respect
Parents of participating children were supportive of the cause, claiming that such charitable initiatives are important for their children’s growth into responsible adults.
Rawish, mother of 3-year-old Zoya, said she is proud to see her little girl give back to the community during this special month.
“Apart from wanting my daughter to follow her dreams and do well in life, one of the most important things for me is for her to be a good person. For her to always care for others and be intuitive to what people around her are going through,” said Rawish.
She pointed out that such events such ensure that children learn to respect and look out for people around them.
Another mother, Ariybe-Oke, said it is heart-warming to note that in spite of current worldwide difficulties, the nursery has taken the time to teach the children the values of Ramadan. “This is teaching our children at such young ages the importance and value of nurturing the needs of others,” said Ariybe-Oke.
Sharing the same views, Farida Jhanjharya, Head Administrator at Kids World Nursery, also noted the important of sharing and caring. “Life is not just about learning to read and write, as learning to share and care is just as important. The school places great emphasis on being part of the community. This is a lifelong skill that helps us all flourish,” she said.
