SCHOOL students were honoured last night for their efforts in a charity initiative aimed at renovating homes of underprivileged Bahraini families.
Three teams from the Abdulrahman Kanoo International School, Ibn Khuldoon National School, and Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School took part in this year’s edition of Baitkm Baitna (Your House is My House).
The initiative, now in its 11th edition, is organised by Bahraini relief youth-led society Ayadi Relief and witnessed the participation of the 33 high school students who fully furnished and finished three government houses.
According to Ayadi Relief’s general manager Shaikha Showaiter, the young participants, the youngest since the initiative began, exceeded all expectations by “going above and beyond for the families”.
“Even though the students were below 21 and were only high school students they still exceeded expectations and presented their finished projects with professionalism masterfully,” she told the GDN.
During the closing ceremony last night, the teams presented their journeys and were honoured with commemorative shields for their participation.
The teams were called Al Ghaith (Arabic for rain), Al Helm (Arabic for dream), and Al Jood (Arabic for generosity).
They were awarded based on their completion of specific criteria such as benevolence, workmanship, creativity, media, financial management and organisation and team work.
The students spent two weeks collecting donations, planning and preparing followed by two weeks of working inside the houses to fully furnish the properties to allow the families to move in.
“At first we were worried about the students being able to fully furnish a family house and if the family would trust them enough – but they all exceeded our expectations by paying attention to the smallest details,” added Ms Showaiter.
“In one of the houses the mother was passionate about arts and crafts so they designed a corner for her especially for that.
“Usually mothers are always concerned about providing everything for their children that they end up neglecting their passion – so this mother was so surprised that she was thought of and that’s heart warming.
“The biggest goal a person can live for is to help others and we rise by lifting others – if we don’t lift each other there is no way society will develop.”
Ayadi Relief’s projects directorate manager Noora Ali explained that the homes were selected from recently distributed social housing units.
“They were picked because the families had received them but were unable to move in because they couldn’t afford to furnish the houses,” she told the GDN.
“Usually previous teams, who are 21 and above, would handle construction, furnishing and finishing but for this season we had the participants handle the furnishing and finishing and they stunned us with their accomplishments and attention to detail.
“Giving back to society isn’t just about donating money but it also includes spending effort and time to ease people’s lives. Giving back has no age and no limit.”
Al Jood was awarded in the categories of benevolence and workmanship, while Al Helm team was recognised for their financial management, creativity as well as organisation and team work, and Al Ghaith team was awarded for presentation and communication.
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