CAIRO - Borrowing a metaphor from the cyber world, a young man held up a banner reading 'Press here to enjoy the satisfaction of giving'. The banner drew attention to a street show highlighting the philanthropic activities of Resala. This youth, standing in el-Merghani Street in Heliopolis, works as a volunteer for Resala (Message), one of Egypt's most popular charitable organisations. He held the banner, while other volunteers swiftly distributed fliers about Resala's activities to the people in the street. This was followed by a show in mime, whose scenes shed light on Resala's different activities. The volunteers miming the show had come up with this and other innovative ideas to encourage the public to volunteer for Resala. "I feel myself flying in the sky, when I see a child's eyes light up and when he smiles," Heba Ahmed, 19, another Resala volunteer, said. "I try to set aside some time each day to do some charitable work, as it makes me more tolerant and my heart more pure." She added that she feels very happy when she's able to help anyone who really needs help. “Doing this gives a special satisfaction to the soul," as Heba described it. The latest creative idea is no oddity for Resala, as it always comes up with innovative ideas. It was one of the first organisations to pick up donations of money, clothes, books, old things you don't use, etc., from people's homes. You just have to ring and a volunteer will come to your flat to collect your donations. Resala, which is essentially limitless in the causes it espouses, has around 55 branches nationwide, staffed by about 100,000 volunteers, trying to help the Egyptian community. It cares for orphans, the elderly, the blind and the deaf, as well as helping children with special needs, alleviating poverty, running literacy courses and engaging in recycling – to name but a few of its countless activities. Every year in Ramadan, they collect clothes for up to two million poor families, distributing them during Eid al-Fitr, the feast at the end of the holy fasting month, bringing smiles to the faces of needy parents and their children. The Sunnah (sayings, actions and approvals of the Prophet Mohammed) urges people to wear new clothes for the feast at the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, so they can feel how the poor people suffer, encouraging Muslims be merciful and to help other people – this is what volunteering is all about. Egypt is a country, where charity is part and parcel of the faith of Muslims and Christians. However, volunteering that requires time and effort is a concept which many organisations are trying to encourage on a larger scale. "I think that life is about helping each other," said Sara Moustafa (26), who also works for Resala. "It's a good feeling to help people, as you're doing something that is of value." Sara stressed that more should be done to promote the culture of volunteering, in every country, especially in Egypt. “If everyone in the world used just one hour in every 24 of their lives to help other people, it would make a great difference. "I'm sure that doing this will make our world a better place. You soon make friends with the other volunteers and we have a lot of fun. It's never boring," she said enthusiastically. In a country like Canada, volunteering is really something big, with more than 12 million Canadian volunteers involved in communities throughout the country. For Canadians, volunteering is part of their identity, as they value civic participation and the spirit of helping the community. Another charitable organisation, which helps people without discrimination is Dar el-Orman, established in 1993. Dar el-Orman also concentrates on small-size projects for poor people, rather than giving them money. The administration of Dar el-Orman argues that “the money will end but the project will extend". One of the good things they do is give poor families in rural areas a pregnant cow that can provide them with milk and cheese, which they can sell to make a living; when the cow gives birth, the calf will also help them make money. "Innovative ideas always attract volunteers and encourage people to donate, making them feel that they are doing something really good," said Yara Mohamed (19), another volunteer. "I think every citizen has the duty to volunteer, but the charitable organisations must come up with fresh ideas to lure people to stretch a helping hand."
