Shahd Alhamdan Saudi Gazette A team of three Saudis have returned to the Kingdom after spending several days in Kenya helping poverty-stricken people living in slums. The team was comprised of Maha Taher, her husband Hilal Al-Harithy, and his friend Modar Nazer. The three were inspired to travel to Kenya after receiving an email from Ahmad Al-Shugairi, the host of TV show Yalla Shabab. “Ahmad Shugairi sent us an email sharing his experiences of Kenya and mentioned the tough lives of people in Kenyan slums. He created a sense of urgency for us to go and lend a helping hand,” said Taher, who is head of digital marketing and a partner in 77Media Company. During their visit, the three kick-started a project to renovate a school and an orphanage. “First we went to visit a school and an orphanage to meet children and … see what is required. We then met a construction company, decided on a floor plan, the next steps, timelines, responsibilities and the budget,” said Taher. Kenya has a population of over 40 million, yet only 18 percent have access to electricity and 43 percent live on $1.25 or less a day. Taher said the group has gained a lot of experience and lessons. “We have been blessed and God has given us health, wealth, youth and education for a reason. It is important to share what we have with others,” she said. “Life is a temporary test and every action we take counts. So we have to act swiftly and create an impact because others in less fortunate circumstance definitely need our help. The distribution of wealth is unfair and everyone blessed is responsible for helping others,” she added. Taher said the people of Kenya were happy to see them. “They were kind, cheerful, smiling and very welcoming, especially children. They hugged, kissed, danced and sang with us. They even gave us a nickname ‘muzungu', which means white people. Every time we turned an alley in the slums we heard kids laughing and singing muzungoooooo, muzungoooooo, ” said Taher. Taher believes education is the best investment. “We want to help children, the future of tomorrow. We want them to have equal opportunities to learn and prosper so they can help their families, communities, societies, countries and the world. One man's success is his community's success if he shares it,” she added. Taher has also visited Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. She intends to continue traveling and hopes to visit Kenya in April to check up on the project. She added that volunteers are welcome to join her. “I travel to countries for different reasons. For example, I fly to Zimbabwe for economic reasons. Where there is a ridiculous inflation people need to trade items in exchange for food, materials or services. I travel to Kenya for educational purposes and other reasons like poverty alleviation, sustainable development, employment and agriculture. Each trip is different,” she said. “I thank God everyday for being able to brush my teeth in clean water, for being able to wear clean warm clothes, for owning a pen at work after seeing kids fight for pens to write in schools, for transportation, electricity, safety, healthcare and much more. “I thank God all the time for all the blessings He has given us. I thank God a thousand times over. Words cannot describe how grateful I am and how responsible I feel for helping others. I urge and beg everyone to give as much as they can while they have the chance,” Taher added.
