JEDDAH, 1 September 2005 — Charity work is no longer the job of grown-up people as the number of children and teenagers participating in charity activities is growing. Influenced by the availability of charitable opportunities, schools and parents’ encouragement, more young people are helping society’s less fortunate.

Eleven-year-old Abdullah Farooq told Arab News that taking part in charitable activities is fun. “Whenever we donate, God will prevent something harmful from happening to us and will give us more,” he said.

Safiya Yamani, a seventh-grader at the British Continental School in Jeddah, decided to donate the money she saved to an orphan institute instead of buying new toys.

“I’ve been taught to believe that these orphans need it more than I do,” she said. “I’ve got enough toys and stuff; it’s not going to affect me, but it will hopefully help them more.”

Elsewhere at a private high school in Jeddah some graduating students raised SR50,000 for their graduation party. They opted to donate the funds to a more lasting endeavor than a two-hour graduation party.

One school staff member told Arab News that more people are inspired to donate money when they see more people getting involved with a charitable activity. Some young people entering the work force choose to let their wages make a difference for others.

“The money I get for my work comes out of a lot of effort,” said Maha Mohammad, a 23-year-old woman employed by a private establishment. “I thought a lot about spending it, yet nothing was satisfying for me. That’s why I’ve decided to sponsor a female orphan with around SR2,400 per year.”

Arab News contacted a number of charitable organizations throughout the Kingdom. Most wer pleased with the number of teen volunteers working in summer months and are impressed by the young people’s devotion and commitment.

One representative said that his institution does not differentiate age or sex. The institution welcomes any participation and donation from anyone no matter how small it is — or how large. One woman around the age of 21 came in and donated her wedding dowry of SR20,000.

“It was something unique — appreciated by us and hopefully by God,” he said.

Many people get inspired to donate items when charities are willing to collect donations from their homes.

Charity Storage is one such Jeddah organization that helps a large number of families. Riyad Almazjazi, a public relations employee there, told Arab News that the institute currently is supporting about 10,000 families.

The donations include money, furniture, food, electronics, clothes and school supplies — even things that need repair. Almazjazi said the institute’s technicians could fix and enhance anything they receive for free. He also noted that so far 15,734 food baskets have been delivered to poor families this year.

More youth participation will take place during the holy month of Ramadan. Young men or women willing to help will collect donations for breakfast meals for poor, fasting families.

“When the tents for Zakat Al-Fitr are built (by the end of Ramadan) covering all the districts in Jeddah, young men will be working in them,” Almazjazi concluded.

Zakat Al-Fitr is compulsory alms taken every year from the individual and donated to people in need on the day of Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Ramadan fasting.