Beit Al Khair Society honours 60 orphans

The Beit Al Khair Society (Baks) honoured 60 orphans at Al Boom Tourist Village as part of the Zayed Humanitarian Work Day on Thursday evening. The celebrations were held under the sponsorship and in the presence of Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and corresponded with the 10th death anniversary of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

An orphan girl giving a kiss to one of Beit Al Khair social workers. — Supplied photos

Abdeen Taher Al Awadhi, general manager, Baks, said the UAE has been built on the values of giving, solidarity, fraternity and cooperation, without which the country would not have been the prosperous, secure and stable state it is today.

The event, co-organised with the Orphan’s Smile and Philanthropy Ambassadors voluntary teams, involved an Iftar banquet, as well as a variety of activities for the kids. “It is a good chance to remember the great philanthropic deeds of the (founding) father Shaikh Zayed, which we should sincerely observe and follow,” Al Awadhi said.

The young honorees are affiliated to four centres under the society in Hatta, Al Leseili, Barsha and Al Aweer, as well as its headquarters in Al Qusais, he explained.

Awadhi told Khaleej Times that the Baks currently sponsors 1,967 orphans from all emirates. “The children — all Emiratis — are supported by 500 national sponsors.”

The Dh12 million budget allocated for local orphans covers all necessary aspects of life. “The children are being looked after medically, educationally, socially and even psychologically at the hands of 62 specialists and social workers,” he said.

The expenditures of the 25-year-old society hit Dh151 million in 2013 as compared to Dh146 million in 2012, Awadhi said. “We are only concerned with the local cases, spanning poor families, low-income people, urgent incidents and lump-sum-based cases, apart from orphans, students, widows, divorcees, the deserted, families of prisoners, patients, elderly, and special needs people.” Amira Shakir, head of the Orphans section at the Society, said the sponsored children stay with their relatives. “None of them is accommodated in an orphanage.”

The Baks spares no effort to make them all happy and meet their needs. “Five ceremonies have been held this year, in collaboration with several entities and philanthropists, for the benefit of our orphans.”

She said a detailed report is submitted to the sponsors on the services provided and activities organised for the children. “We pay, if needed, their school, university and transport fees, provide them with the electronic devices requested, and also maintain their houses if necessary.”

Urging people to donate to the Baks, Shakir said they can be reached on toll free number 80022554 or by e-mail at orphans@alkhair.ae. “While Dh500 has been set as the minimum monthly donation for sponsoring an orphan, philanthropists may contribute any amount to the Orphans Fund which is meant to finance other activities, trips, prizes, training courses for orphans, and may be used if a regular funding is halted.”

Ibrahim Al Muazen, an Emirati volunteer, said he helps the little orphans with his camera. “This is a simple thing we can do for these kids who lost their fathers, and to make them smile fills me with joy and satisfaction.”

Eighth grader Salama Mohammed, 12, lost her father five years ago. “I am happy with the services being provided to us by Beit Al Khair which I joined one year back. They do their best to entertain us and fulfil our needs.”

Reiterating the same, ninth grader Mohammed Ibrahim, 13, said the Baks staff regularly visit him, gave him “nice gifts”, and took him on interesting trips.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com