Teens 4 Positive Action, an 80 member-strong group of teenage volunteers involved in community-building activities in Dubai, will be having an afternoon get together for volunteers and special needs children, hosted by Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort on March 30, 2006.
Parisa Rayes, Founder and Director of Teens 4 Positive Action said: “The group was born out of the need for generating more community awareness among teenagers living in the UAE and the Middle East at large. Living in a multi-cultural society such as Dubai is one of the best lessons in tolerance and appreciation of diversity, yet at the same time, the fast-paced nature of Dubai’s life sometimes makes it difficult for youth to feel a true sense of community and belonging.”
Thanking Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort for their generosity in sponsoring the event, Rayes added: “The lack of community-based initiatives leaves teenagers with few options to contribute meaningfully to the society they live in. We are looking to harness our members’ energy and commitment into channels that are beneficial for societal and personal development. We involve teenagers and younger children in constructive community projects and provide them a forum through which to meet and exchange ideas.”
Teens 4 Positive Action also expressed their gratitude to Arabian Nights Tours and the Nail Beautique in Umm Suqeim, for supporting the group’s activities earlier in March, and thanked Hetal Pawani at The Jam Jar for sponsoring another event organised by the group in February.
Teens 4 Positive Action started off with a mere eight members, and today boasts of an 80- strong volunteer force drawn from 15 of Dubai’s schools. It brings together teenagers from 12 to 18 years, who help in a variety of areas within the community through teamwork and collective effort.
The group’s largest collective focus is on children and teens with special needs, and it organises activities for students from two special needs schools in Dubai. Teens 4 Positive Action volunteers also work with the elderly, homeless shelters and involve themselves in environmental campaigns in the UAE.
Teens 4 Positive Action volunteers initially held weekly discussion meetings at the Dubai Community Health Centre, but enthusiastic response to its increasing activities has resulted in an influx of new members, leading the volunteer group to relocate some of its activities to the playground facilities at Emirates International School.
“A sense of community and an opportunity to make a difference provides invaluable support for today’s youth and instills purpose and self-confidence in them. Communal activities also bring a sense of responsibility and help raise self-esteem in youth. I believe that active involvement in societal improvement is a key tenet towards developing future leaders and responsible global citizens,” Rayes pointed out.
