Pakistan youth prepare 1,000 Iftar boxes for workers

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Pakistan youth prepare 1,000 Iftar boxes for workers

Dubai - A total of 17 children from Omar Bin Al Khattab School in Ajman helped with the packing.

By Saman Haziq

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Published: Sun 26 May 2019, 9:20 PM

Last updated: Sun 26 May 2019, 11:24 PM

Over 40 school and university students experienced an emotional Iftar moment as they watched 1,000 blue-collared workers enjoy Iftar meals prepared by them at a Ramadan kitchen in Jebel Ali.
Organised by Pakistan Youth Forum (PYF), the official youth wing under Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD), the Ramadan Kitchen activity was aimed at giving youngsters opportunity to work with professional chefs in a commercial kitchen while doing good for the community.
At around 2pm, a minibus full of PYF youngsters - from school and college - entered the Jebel Ali Gate 4. The Taste Studio kitchen opened its doors to youngsters to let them prepare, pack and distribute Iftar meals at the Emirates Red Crescent Labour Tent.
While the older students helped in the preparation of the Iftar meal that included biryani, cakes, fried chicken etc, the younger students helped in packing the Iftar boxes.
A total of 17 children - both boys and girls - from Omar Bin Al Khattab School in Ajman helped with the packing, still dressed in their school uniforms.
Zainab, a Grade 10 student from Omar Bin Al Khattab School, said this was the best experience of her life. "It was a great experience as we got a chance to actually serve the society with 'literally' our own hands. It was fascinating to see a Ramadan Kitchen operate and the happiness in the workers' eyes when they saw us serve hot meals. It was truly fulfilling to see their faces light up."
Tehreem Muhammad, a PYF member who was helping in the kitchen, said: "I felt the true essence of Ramadan today as I helped prepare and pack meals. Although it was a bit hard to work in the heat coming from the gas stoves and with aroma of food around, the end result was truly satisfying. We all loved every bit of it."
The 1,000 Iftar boxes contained biryani, dates, chicken lollipop, Laban, juice, cake, bananas and water. These were taken to the Iftar tent where the students arranged them.
Farhad Ally, head of media at PYF, told Khaleej Times: "The tent serves 800 to 1,000 workers every day free of cost, and the PYF students joined them. The idea was to be part of a good cause and also let these youngsters have an experience of a commercial kitchen."
He added: "We have raised funds and provided Iftars for workers, but we've never prepared meals with our own hands, which makes it our first hands-on experience at a Ramadan kitchen."
saman@khaleejtimes.com


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