Doaa Bin Thabit, Contributing Editor, Packaging MEA, grants at insight into her delightful Ramadan initiative, which encourages more fortunare school children to distribute toys to their orphan peers and instill in them a spirit of generosity
Since the launch of her social initiative Gift with Love in 2019, Doaa bin Thabit, founder of Packageha, has been committed to creating an environment of emotional stability for orphans – an environment that brings joy and self-worth to this segment of society that can bring about our future leaders and creators of a better world for all.
Taking a big leap forward with Al-Birr Association and the magical atmosphere of the Red Sea Mall Gift
With Love returns for its second edition, following a pause for coronavirus, bigger and better. This time, with a breakfast hosted by the Red Sea Mall, it will give the orphans of the Al-Birr Association in Jeddah a magical atmosphere of love and social harmony. Doaa bin Thabit says: “I made sure that the initiative was organised in Ramadan to encourage children to give, so that the reward is double. Gift your toys in Ramadan and Allah will reward you new toys in Eid”.
From Toys With Love to Gift With Love
Ms Bin Thabit further explains the initiative, which represents the essence of her unique social enterprise Packageha: “Packageha aims to empower small business owners and productive families who cannot afford to have professional packaging, by creating customised packages with minimum quantity that reflects their corporate identity and product uniqueness,” she says.
“As a leading example of CSR and community partnership, Packageha reaches out to well-off children, to repackage their toys and gift it to orphans. Hence, we called it Toys With Love. This year, AstraZeneca Saudi and Dar Alfiker, Bearhugs and Al-Aqsa international schools lead by example to engage their students as part of their exceptional educational mission, which aims to produce educated leaders with empathy.
“It is this engagement of our best schools and the exceptional children and their parents that gave us the courage to expand the scope and scale of the initiative to make it Gift With Love, with larger boxes that include toys, stories, accessories, stationery and more.
Promoting values through community partnerships
Reinforcing social values can be accelerated when we work together, says Ms bin Thabit. “Through this initiative, we aim to reinforce the principle of ‘Tahado Tahabo’, which can be translated to ‘Those who gift each other, love each other’.
“When well-off children gift new or used toys in good condition, love and social harmony increase in society. A gift from society to disadvantaged children preserves their dignity and implants love in their small hearts and creates the next generation of leaders that enjoys charity. “Students enjoyed the process of folding the box by themselves, filling it with the gifts, and then writing their name and their school names. The students were given awareness about who orphans are and our responsibility towards them and why donating makes society a better place.
“The box, the cover and the colours all cheer the orphans up and let them know that their society loves them.” She adds: “I was pleased to be invited by Dar Al-Fikr and Bearhugs schools to work with children who impressed me with their own touches of beauty, placing stickers of hearts and stars in addition to drawings and writing greetings on the boxes that reflect the kindness of their souls. We hope to sustain this year after year.
AstraZeneca, Dar Al-Fikr, Bearhugs and Al-Aqsa Schools to lead by example
The participation of many schools and companies, including the employees of AstraZeneca, the students of Dar Al-Fikr International School, Bearhugs and Al-Aqsa International School combined for a contribution of more than 300 boxes.
About this participation, the administration of Dar Al-Fikr Schools says: “When giving comes from the heart, humanity is demonstrated in its best form. “Through such initiative, society reaches the highest goals not tainted by affectation and fear of failure. Sharing glorifies values, transcends goals, especially when it is aimed at charity.
“In Dar Al-Fikr Schools, we always strive to instill values of authenticity, which is rooted in and emanates from our vision and mission. We had the opportunity to embrace the values of charity and propagate it in our children. This is an honour for us and comforts us that we are taking righteous steps on the path of truth towards the satisfaction of Allah.
“We were very pleased with the opportunity to be part of the Gift With Love initiative. Thanks to Allah and Doaa bin Thabit for bringing forward the spirit of the citizen of generosity and giving with love inside each student. We ask Allah that these good qualities be rooted in them and grow further to earn the title Allah has given to human as His caliphate on earth.”
Regarding the participation of students, the administration of Bearhugs International Schools, says: “ Bear Hugs International Preschool would like to thank Doaa bin Thabit for giving us the opportunity and honour to participate again this year in the Gift With Love initiative. “To bring happiness to children, and to be able to contribute in our own humble way is truly a blessing.”
Regarding the participation of students of Al-Aqsa International Schools, Mr Abdullah Al-Shehri says: “I am very happy to participate in this wonderful work that delighted our orphaned children. We are all touched to see the joy in their eyes!” Regarding the participation of AstraZeneca Saudi, they say: “As part of AstraZeneca’s strong belief in social responsibility, we are pleased to participate in Gift With Love where 60 of our colleagues participated and packed gifts with passion and love for orphans in our community. Making these children smile makes our hearts swell with love.”
Eco-friendly boxes
Another unique feature of this initiative is the use of environmentally friendly box material. The “Eco-friendly Recycling” sign was placed on the gift boxes to reinforce among students the value of preserving the environment. On the participation of UCIC – the United Carton Industries Company – which manufactured the boxes, Mohammed Al-Mikhlafi, Regional Sales Manager for the Western Region, says: “The truth is I am speechless as I see the joy in the children’s eyes when they were handed the gift boxes.” And on the participation of Packaging MEA, Ben Daniel, Chief Editor, says: “Although it has been 10 years since we launched Packaging MEA and almost 28 years since I’ve been part of this wonderful packaging-print fraternity, it was 2018 when I met Doaa bin Thabit and I realised that it was high time I gave back to the industry.
“That was the beginning of Packaging For a Cause. Since then, we have been running this wonderful section which has been authored by Doaa bin Thabit. “It is really fulfilling to see news, features, interviews and other allied articles on Packaging For a Cause taking up the first few pages of our publication. “I am so glad that Doaa bin Thabit has taken up this wonderful Gift With Love project, which reflects her selfless service to help the underprivileged and in making packaging a medium to accomplish this cause.
“We are proud to be partners with Packageha for this initiative. “We will continue to support Packaging For a Cause and particularly Gift With Love and I strongly urge all my friends and colleagues in the industry to be a part of this initiative. “In so doing, we not only become more socially responsible individuals but also feel more fulfilled as entrepreneurs and potentially strengthen the loyalty our clients feel for our organisations”.
The joy in their eyes is life as it should be!
Ms bin Thabit concludes by saying: “The joy of giving is found in its most sincere and pure forms with school students, and the joy of gifting is found in the eyes of the orphans. “We drew happiness from giving to orphans and we found life in their eyes. “We hope this initiative will continue to expand year after year with wider participation for more schools, students and even companies.”