GULFWEEKLY: Charitable groups across Bahrain are staging summer bazaars and other fun activities, energising the community while also engaging them for the greater good.
The kingdom is home to several social and not-for-profit organisations that regularly run campaigns to support diverse causes, from solidarity with the differently abled to women’s rights and animal welfare.
Among them is unregistered charity One Heart Bahrain. The platform is set to host its Community Bazaar tomorrow, July 31, at Al Hilal Hospital in Salmabad.
The event seeks to advocate sustainability by inviting donors to give away pre-loved items in good condition. Articles can include clothing, stationery, toys, books and utensils, all for families in need.
“Following the incredible success of last year’s Community Bazaar, our team is once again coming together to create a meaningful impact,” One Heart Bahrain operations director and project manager Amal Ishaq told GulfWeekly.
“What began as a simple act of kindness has grown into a heartwarming movement,” she added.
Unlike previous editions where the families were presented with the donations, tomorrow’s event invites them to enjoy a shopping experience, organisers have revealed.
“Every family has been carefully verified to ensure support reaches those who need it most. Rather than receiving handouts, families can shop for the items they need,” she explained.
Volunteers, who can help transport, sort and organise the items for the bazaar, from 6pm to 9pm today, can reach out to @oneheart.bh on Instagram.
The island has always had a lively thrifting culture. Many local second-hand stores support charitable causes like the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) thrift shop located in Budaiya. Proceeds from their sales go to support the animal shelter, which supports more than 150 strays.
According to a recent announcement on their social media, ‘BSPCA Boutique’ will be joining Market Street, a popular local bazaar that supports homegrown artists, crafters and designers, for a limited time.
“Building on the success of our thrift shop, the boutique offers a carefully curated selection of quality donated items in a dedicated retail space, with all proceeds helping to fund the BSPCA’s rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work. Our goal this year is to continue growing support for the charity, raising awareness of our work and ensuring we can help even more animals in need,” BSPCA chairman Mahmoud Faraj said.
Located in Um Al Hassam, Market Street is open seven days a week from 10am to 8pm.
For more details, follow @bspcathriftshop on Instagram.
While retail therapy offers the Bahrain bound a fun indoor activity this summer, elsewhere in the kingdom local groups are focusing their campaigns on those labouring in the heat, like the Pakistani Women’s Association (PWA). The expatriate women’s society distributed more than 85 Thermos bottles to workers at various locations in the kingdom as part of its annual Refreshment Drive this month.
The campaign not only seeks to help workers to stay hydrated in the extreme heat but also promotes using reusable bottles instead of single-use plastic bottles, encouraging eco-friendly habits. “The next drive is planned a few weeks from now as some of our members are travelling,” PWA president Shahmeen Islam noted.
Launched in 1998, the group is celebrating the 20th anniversary of being conferred with one of Pakistan’s prestigious awards, the Tamgha-e-Eisar, for its humanitarian contributions to the community.
For more information on their campaigns, follow @p_w_a_bahrain on Instagram.
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