19-year olds, Saaj Chowdhury and Adersh Subhash are using their college breaks to give back to the community. The two young students organised a Football Fundraiser Tournament in July, raising BHD 400. The proceedings from the tournament, held at the University of Technology Bahrain (UTB) were donated to the Bahraini Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled (BAPF).
The tournament, open to all, featured 8 teams where MJD Salcete emerged as winners and Marina FC as the runners-up. HE Abdulhakim Al Sheno, a Member of the Parliament and the Former President of International Military Sports Council attended the tournament as well.
Throughout the tournament, volunteers segregated and collected plastic bottles and bags used by visitors, players, and organizers. These were deposited at BAPF’s centre in Adliya which would be used to fund the equipment like wheelchairs for individuals with disabilities.
Saaj and Adersh, friends from school are using their break from college to raise funds and awareness about the conditions people with disabilities live in and the need to improve them. While Saaj is pursuing higher education at the Arizona State University, in the US, Adersh is an ACCA student at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance.
As a volunteer with BAPF, Saaj began working with the community while in school. The two formed A Hope, an initiative under which they both host a series of activities for the community.
“During my childhood, I unfortunately struggled to interact with my late maternal uncle, who was living with disability. This experience motivated me to join BAPF and provide the love, care, and attention that individuals with disabilities deserve,” said Saaj.
“This drove our decision to raise funds to help them obtain the necessary equipment, such as the customised wheelchairs that could improve their quality of life,” the 19-year-old added.
The first-ever event the two students hosted was a used book sale at Matrix, Juffair Mall, the proceeds from which were again, donated to charity. Before the football tournament, they conducted a Beach Cleanup this year in July at the Bahrain Bay Beach.
You can also join Saaj and Adersh’s mission to make a difference to communities in Bahrain. “Anyone interested can join our initiatives for future events by contacting us via Instagram at @ahope_bh. Our goal is to bridge the gap between all communities,” said Saaj.
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