20,000 old textbooks distributed free to needy students of IISJ

JEDDAH — The Indian Cultural Society and Bazm-e-Osmania Jeddah, the first and the oldest NRIs associations here that has been involved in social work involving Indian expatriates since over 40 years in Jeddah, distributed old textbooks to needy International Indian School here in Jeddah. They distributed about 20,000 textbooks. Last year the ICSJ had distributed more than 20,000 old textbooks prior to the commencement of the new academic year. This year ICSJ and Bazm-e-Osmania collected more then 30,000 old textbooks and distributed about 20,000 in Jeddah and 2,500 in Taif and 2,500 in Riyadh. The group distributed 25,000 old textbooks to needy parents and students of International Indian Schools. About 5,000 books were discarded because of their poor condition. And also some books were not of International Indian Schools and nor in the syllabus. President of ICSJ and Bazm-e-Osmania Jeddah Arif Quraishi said, “We have also distributed old and new uniforms, bags, new notebooks, new and old shoes, pens, 0xford English Dictionary, guidebooks, and stationery items.” He said parents and students came from as far as Makkah, Taif, Madinah, Yanbu to collect books and other items that were given free. The distribution took place at a local restaurant Shadab in Azizia district. The books were distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis on April 2-3 (Saturday and Sunday ) from 8.30. p.m. to 11.30 p.m. at the start of the new academic year of IISJ. The textbooks collection drive took place last month, urging parents and students through newspaper announcements and poster campaigns to donate old textbooks at certain locations in Jeddah, after which they were collected, arranged class-wise in bundles as per syllabus by ICSJ and Bazm members and families. These members include: Dr. Dilshad A. Shamsi, Arif Quraishi, Arif Masood Siddiqui, Maqbool Pervez, Laeeq Siddiqui, Jimmy Fareed Al-Waheedy, Iqbal S. Al Sulkar. Quraishi thanked the parents and students for their cooperation and for donating and collecting the books. He also appreciated the mini markets, polyclinics and Shadab Restaurant who had given the hall for two nights free of charge. Quraishi thanked all newspapers and members of society and Bazm for their sincere cooperation in collecting books, sorting, and arranging them class-wise.