AUCians’ Charitable Efforts During Ramadan

The spirit of giving at AUC is in full force this Ramadan. Meals prepared by AUCians were distributed to the less fortunate during the first week of Ramadan, and this effort will continue with weekly meals during the holy month. 

Mashroo3 Kheir, a student-led non-profit organization, is collaborating with Misr El Kheir to pack the food boxes.

“We managed to pack 5,000 boxes, and we’ll distribute them during the first week of Ramadan in Upper Egypt, Assyout, Sohag, Fayoum, Luxor, and Al Ayyat with Misr El Kheir,” said Graphic Design senior and Mashroo3 Kheir President Hana Assil before the beginning of Ramadan.

Assil also mentioned that AUC hosts it’am, a gathering with prepared meals for the less fortunate, every Ramadan with approximately 1,500 meals per week, and students assist with its distribution. 

Mahsroo3 Kheir also plans to hold one or two Iftars for the first time this year for the less fortunate. Not only will they host Iftar and distribute meals, but they will also have their yearly “Lebs Saeed” event. 

“Lebs Saeed is one of the most special events that have been going on in Mashroo3 Kheir for a very long time, thankfully. This day, we get to invite unprivileged kids and orphans from all around Egypt, from Cairo and other cities, to have their very own shopping-for-Eid-clothes day,” said Assil.

Ramadan is not just about the meals and the gatherings. There is also a cultural tradition of buying new clothes for children to enjoy wearing brand-new outfits to celebrate Eid Al Fitr. 

“Volunteers from Mashroo3 Kheir and outsider volunteers get to accompany and befriend each child as they choose their own clothes for Eid. Throughout the past years, this day has been unforgettable for both the kids and the volunteers,” added Assil.

However, due to the increasing prices, the funding of these projects and activities has become challenging, but Mashroo3 Kheir came up with innovative ideas rather than conventional ways to raise money to fund the Ramadan preparations. 

“We collaborated with The Mind Space and we did a session called MTB. MTB is short for ‘Move Talk Brunch.’ It revolves around doing good for yourself and others. We also collaborated with Roof Flow yoga studio and did a puppy yoga session,” explained Assil. 

The Student Union is also preparing packs for Ramadan for AUC’s workers and staff and is setting up to distribute the first batch starting this week for workers, staff, and the less fortunate, according Rola Rany, MICT junior and General Manager of the Student Social Responsibility of the Student Union.

“We have distributed packs for security of the new cairo campus and in the next couple of days we will be distributing on tahrir campus security with a total of 450 packs for the first batch,” said Rany.

The country’s financial situation is making this year’s Ramadan preparations tough. However, AUCians are developing more affordable alternatives to include in their packs and innovative ways to raise money.