Volunteers share experiences with Queen Rania

What started off as an individual voluntary effort of a college student two years ago, quickly gained momentum and became a nationwide endeavour that spawned scores of charity campaigns steered by motivated youngsters. "Takaful" Jordan Volunteers, comprising students from various universities, gather every Saturday and divide themselves into groups to do volunteer work in support of underprivileged communities. Its founder, Mohammad Jaber, said that the group was established in 2009 with a mission to spread the culture of volunteer work in the country. "Jordan Volunteers started with a few people and grew to become a group of over 9,000 volunteers," he said yesterday. Jaber, a medical student at the Hashemite University, made the remarks yesterday during the Jordan Volunteers' first forum, which was attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania and members of the group. "Takaful is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to spread volunteerism and act as an incubator for voluntary initiatives across Jordan," he noted. Mutasim Masalmeh, one of the members, noted that the group has carried out more than 114 different events and activities since its inception. He explained that their work mainly targets the elderly, orphans, people with disabilities, paediatric cancer patients and other charity associations. During yesterday's forum, the group introduced the audience to the volunteers, their work, achievements and the challenges they face through presentations and discussions. Bana Damrawi shared her experience in volunteer work with the participants. "We go out every Saturday to visit orphans, persons with disabilities, cancer patients and the elderly. A smile on the face of an orphan or the blessings of a senior citizen is the reward that motivates us," the university student, who is majoring in financial sciences, told participants. Several volunteers said they were inspired by their colleagues, which motivated them to start their own voluntary initiatives to serve their local communities. Omar Kamel initiated a campaign to encourage his peers to donate blood. "We carry out a blood donation campaign every two months. So far, we have organised eight. In our last campaign, we donated 100 blood units for cancer patients," the civil engineering undergraduate said. Not all the volunteers are university students - barely nine-years-old, Ola Omari, got involved in volunteer work at an early age. "I joined the group this year; I like meeting new people. When I'm with orphans I make them feel like I'm their friend and I enjoy my time with them as we play," the youngest member of the group said yesterday. Highlighting the bonds she forged with those she helps, Omari said she learned from people with disabilities "their love of life, and from the elderly their wisdom and experiences". Asa Ghanem, who initiated a campaign for distributing food parcels to the underprivileged, said volunteer work does not only mean helping needy people but also helping oneself. "When you do volunteer work you are doing yourself a great service... Volunteerism reinforces self-respect and a sense of belonging to your country," Ghanem said. After listening to their experiences and reflections on voluntary work, Queen Rania commended the volunteers for their "admirable acts of generosity", adding that the stories she heard were "truly inspiring". Expressing her pride in the youths’ efforts and selfless spirit, Her Majesty highlighted that "volunteerism is a noble act; it’s not charity, it's a way of life. It needs no money; all it takes is some time, a little effort and a generous spirit". Queen Rania said Jordan Volunteers is a model of a constructive and positive youth movement, noting that it is institutionalising and spreading the culture of volunteerism in the Kingdom. "You are pioneers," she told the volunteers. The group, which grew organically and gained momentum purely through word of mouth, is very popular amongst college students in several universities across the Kingdom.