A NEW group of mums and toddlers is planning to organise its first charity drive during Ramadan this year for workers in Juffair, Gudaibiya, Um Al Hassam and Ras Ruman.
Juffair Juniors is also hoping to host an iftar for domestic workers.
“The mothers in the group have older children too who are at the right age to learn about paying it forward and I would like to do something with them during the holy month,” said mother-of-three Nusrat Khan who set up the group in 2022.
“We are planning to distribute cooked meals and staple ingredients,” she told the GDN.
“I have identified a building in Juffair where many low-income workers live. We are also collecting clothes and shoes for needy families.
“While there are people in need all over Bahrain, I’m focusing on areas close to where our members live. It’s our small contribution to a bigger community effort,” said the Indian expatriate who has been living in Bahrain for the last 15 years.
Today, the group consists of 30 mums whose nationalities range from Canadian to German, Russian, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Jordanian and Somali, among others.
“We are open to mothers from all backgrounds and aspire to provide them and their children a platform to socialise and network.”
Explaining the group’s establishment, Ms Khan said: “I gave birth to my youngest in 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. I couldn’t find a mommy community and playgroups in and around Juffair, which pushed me to reach out to other mothers through Facebook.
“Slowly and steadily I started building connections and organised the first playdate at my home,” added the 42-year-old banking and insurance professional who has three sons.
Juffair Juniors also organises picnics, coffee mornings, yoga and painting sessions, and engaging activities for mothers and their children.
It’s most recent event was a breakfast gathering for International Women’s Day where mums enjoyed interacting with each other over coffee and scrumptious food. The event also provided a platform for participants to talk about their passion projects, ranging from art to baking and more.
“Apart from organising social events, we also encourage our members to pursue their passions and what sets their heart on fire. They are mums but they are also women with dreams,” said Ms Khan.
“At present, we are more of an informal set-up but I hope to form a strong community in Juffair in the coming months where children can develop their social skills through play and mothers get to connect with each other.
“We want to create a platform where mums can share and exchange parenting tips, and where we can identify and showcase talent, promote side hustles and give back to the community.”
Those who wish to contribute toward the charity drive or want to be a part of Juffair Juniors can call Ms Khan on 36384683.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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