Young volunteers help last year's flood victimsJEDDAH: It is one year later, but the effects of the devastating floods of Nov. 25, 2009 – known as Black Wednesday – can still be seen in many neighborhoods of the city. There are still people volunteering to help citizens and residents living in the flood-affected areas. A group of young people, organizing themselves under the banner of the Young Initiatives Group (YIG), has been doing just that. Maha Taher, the leader of the YIG, told Saudi Gazette that their group is not only focusing on the cleaning campaign in Jeddah but also helping people who were affected last winter by the floods. “We take care of people who can't pay their electricity and hospital bills. We have also helped to fix the houses which were destroyed in last year's flood. There are still many people who need household appliances and air conditioners. So our group is helping to provide these items. Some of our members have even provided tuition for children of flood-affected families.” Taher said there is a need to create a bridge of communication between people living in the south and north of Jeddah. “People from the north of Jeddah should visit south Jeddah and see that people over there are still starving, they are dying, they don't have roofs over their heads and need financial, emotional and medical support.” She said YIG wants to help all over, but at the moment the focus is on the south of Jeddah. Shada Al-Ahmaday, a medical student who is helping YIG, remembers the camaraderie of the volunteers last year. “I got all the details off Facebook, where to go and what to do. It was very organized and it felt like you were working with your family and friends,” she said and added the volunteers worked on the basis of Islamic values. “To tell you the truth, we didn't expect that much cooperation and voluntary work and support from every corner of Jeddah. We will continue our work to support the people in the flood-affected areas and others who need our help,” she further said. Shadi Mahfooz, another volunteer, also started out working during last year's floods. “It changed my life. I realized that there are many people out there who need help.” She said they packed food boxes and whenever they finished 100 boxes, a shout would go up from everyone. “We thanked Allah that we had not suffered and were in good health so that we could help others,” she said. She said she would continue to help in the areas that were the hardest hit by floods last year. Reema Ahmed, another volunteer, also helped out during the floods last year. She has been working as a volunteer since 2006. “I love to help others and think it's an excellent way to spend your time doing something good for others. I would like to become a full-time volunteer,” she said. She said that after the floods last year, it was sad when the volunteers parted. “You felt like you were leaving your brothers and sisters and didn't know if you were ever going to see them again. Those were the great moments and it was an excellent experience, which I will always remember,” she said. She also promised that she would continue to help needy people and plans to join other charities.
