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Shahd Alhamdan
Saudi Gazette
Oblivious to all sorts of class differences in society, children get along, socialize and play together at special event in Jeddah every February. Two or three orphan’s charities in the city bring some of their children to play and eat a dinner meal in “Aytamona 13” (Our Orphans 13) annual event.
Many of Jeddah’s citizens attend the charity program to interact with orphans, let their children play with them, and buy and sell a variety of items. Proceeds from the sales go to orphans and widows.
The event, which is in its 13th year and organized exclusively for female and child visitors, kicked off at its north Jeddah venue on Thursday and will continue through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. The entry fee is SR20 for children and SR30 for adults.
According to Sara Alfadel, media in-charge, all profits from the three-day event go to the orphans and widows under the Taif Office for Orphans. The office one of the biggest charities in the Kingdom helping orphans and widows in various Saudi cities.
The money goes to Saudi orphans living with their families, and not those in orphanages, she said, adding that last year the event generated about SR1.5 million.
Alfadel said all of Jeddah’s citizens feel that they belong to this annual event and the rate of visitors is increasing each year. She said the participants wait for this event to be part of it and help out.
Alfadel said what distinguishes this year’s event from the previous ones is that it is taking place at a new and more spacious venue.
The event comprises several corners for children to play, including a jungle zone and an under the sea corner.
The jungle zone has many features of the jungle, including animals. Visitors will find in the under the sea corner a lot of information about a variety of fishes.
Visitors can also find a booth of the International Diabetes Care Center (IDCC), where volunteers teach children and their mothers about diabetes.
Several food and drinking booths are there, in addition to a booth for filmmaking.
In the filmmaking booth, which is an initiative of a group of youth participants, children pay a nominal fee of SR20 and shoot a 15 second video and share it on Instagram.
There is also a spa for girls where they enjoy doing their hair, wearing makeup and doing manicure and pedicure.
The Muwakeb Al-Ajer Recycling and Charity Shop is also there, selling second-hand clothing and other items. Children can also buy seedlings for planting later.
Several young females are participating, selling fashionable products including T-shirts and accessories.
Rama, a 16-year-old volunteer, said, “This is my first participation in the event and I like it as I want to be part of the social responsibility work. I am happy to be part of the event also because my father was an orphan.”
