Moovers in the community - volunteering at the charitable Iftar in Dubai

A few weeks ago, Ramadan came to an end and our Dubai HQ closed for the public holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

For some Moovers around the world, this marked the end of a month of fasting during the day and having Iftar once the sun has set and the adhan for the Maghrib prayer is heard.

Iftar - the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan - is one of the religious observances of Ramadan, and is often done as a community, with Muslim people gathering to break their fast together. 

In order to ensure that nobody misses out on the opportunity to celebrate Iftar, the Model Service Society (MSS) in the UAE distributes 12,000 free meals every day across 3 locations to those who need it.  

Irrespective of religion, race and background, thousands of UAE expat volunteers help to serve fruits, drinks and a meal to those who turn up. And, in the 15 years the organisation has been doing Iftar distribution, no one has been turned away.

We caught up with Jenny Collins (ACIPD) who has been rallying local Moovers to support the efforts of a local registered charity called Merciful Hands.

Jenny, why do you believe it is important to support the Charitable Iftar Events?

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims build stronger relationships with Allah through fasting, selfless actions, and praying. Volunteering at events such as the ones coordinated by the Merciful Hands Charity is considered a selfless act and are extremely rewarding.

Having been in the UAE for many years, I originally decided to support my Muslim colleagues by fasting alongside them, even before I converted to Islam. However, since converting it has become the time of year that I truly look forward to. For me it offers a time of self-reflection encompassed in prayer, humility, family, community, giving, coming together and improved spiritual connection.

What was your experience of volunteering last week?

Volunteering alongside the many others with Merciful Hands Charity was an extremely humbling experience. I only discovered their efforts mid-way through Ramdan this year and was therefore only able to volunteer on two occasions due to prior commitments. - but definitely plan to join the effort again next year, which will be their 10th year in operation.

The first time I volunteered with my daughter by my side and we enjoyed the few hours to such a great extent, that I decided to share the experience with my colleagues and see whether they too wanted to join in on an alternative evening.

We were privileged to attend the final distribution of this Ramadan and efficiently worked with other volunteers to distribute 3,200 meals to workers less privileged than ourselves.