RAMADHAN 29, 1445 AH

APRIL 9, 2024

Volunteering plays a crucial role in both individual lives and communities, fostering significant personal development and embodying the spirit of giving and sacrifice. Volunteers dedicate themselves to effecting positive change in others’ lives.

Nasr al Hashmi is among the 25 Omani volunteers engaged in a four-day trip to Tanzania with a Malaysian organisation.

He shared, “I discovered the organisation through friends and colleagues involved in voluntary work. Joining was straightforward as the organisation welcomes all, provided there’s genuine interest.”

Because of its voluntary nature, Al Hashmi said, “The volunteer covers his expenses of the trip, and the organisation arranges the rest, provided that the person has values and ethics and is humble. Sometimes, they meet with people to understand their goals.”

He elaborated, “My journey to East Asia and Africa marks a series of trips. However, my focus now is on Africa, marking my inaugural experience in the continent.”

“Though Oman and the Gulf have robust support institutions, Africa’s dire circumstances warrant attention beyond basic aid, focusing on empowering individuals to manage their lives effectively,” he shared.

Al Hashmi emphasised the importance of charitable work, saying, “For me, people in Africa are more deserving of this charitable work. There are surely needy people in Oman and the Gulf, but we have institutions that oversee this matter and cover a lot. However, there are still some individuals who need workshops on how to manage their lives and finances better than just receiving donations.”

“While Africa does have resources and is a blessed continent for its natural beauty, there is still a lot that needs to be done when it comes to charitable institution structures. I also noticed that a lot of education in the country we visited is limited to teaching religious matters and they don’t have robust programming for important subjects like physics or chemistry. The development of society should come hand in hand with knowing the Quran by heart and this is what we seek to work with them. A quick Google search will clearly outline why Africa deserves all the support it can get,” Al Hashmi added.

Explaining his African volunteering choice, Al Hashmi cited compassion for impoverished Muslim communities and Africa’s untapped resource potential, advocating for sustainable impacts.

“The situation in Africa is really difficult, especially for our Muslim brothers. One can say that some of the poorest places can be found in Africa despite its rich natural resources. Unfortunately, the blessings of these resources do not benefit the people,” he said.

“This volunteering job, the strongest reason for joining is the spirit of giving and offering relief. On top of this, I think any voluntary or charitable efforts should have a sustainable impact,” he said.

Reflecting on the campaign’s reception, Al Hashmi noted varied responses, from donations and interest to positive interactions during visits, highlighting the humbling experiences and valuable lessons gained.

“The reception has been varied but it’s great to know that there was a great interest and several people are participating through their donations. It is also amazing to see that some are taking action and are joining,” Al Hashmi said.

For him, the people of Africa that they visited are very humble and it was an inspiring interaction that taught the volunteers a lot of important values.

“The most profound and challenging lesson I learned was humility. I think humility is becoming less of a priority at a time when we are plagued with this disease called arrogance. Happiness always lies in giving. I also learned how to think of others and contribute to goodness always. I learned that gratitude to God should always be there, and I should never settle for what is good, but always strive to offer more, in addition to thinking of others,” Al Hashmi said.

What is most memorable for Al Hashmi is the opportunity to interact with young children from poverty stricken areas.

“To see the children memorise the Quran and shyly respond to questions to know the extent of their knowledge, it was a very inspiring and heart-touching experience which allowed me to reflect on how I live my life,” he said.

Al Hashmi, a seasoned volunteer, shares valuable insights for those considering Africa as a volunteering destination. He emphasizes the importance of organisation in maximising the impact of aid efforts, citing the vast resources often underutilised due to lack of structure.

Contrary to popular belief, Al Hashmi highlights that Africa’s needs extend beyond basic amenities like wells, emphasising the crucial role of intellectual development and organisational support. He advocates for a holistic approach, where volunteers engage in both temporary aid distribution and the establishment of sustainable educational and community infrastructure.

Describing a systematic approach, he outlines the creation of educational centres, mosques, libraries, bakeries, clinics, and more, sustained through careful investment for eventual self-sufficiency. Al Hashmi encourages others to adopt this model, emphasising its capacity to foster self-reliance and empower local communities.

Reflecting on his journey, Al Hashmi attests to the profound personal growth and gratitude cultivated through volunteering, underscoring its transformative impact on both individuals and communities.

Cambodianflagged wooden carts ran their oxen at high speed on Sunday in an annual race to safeguard the centuries-old tradition as concerns mount over development encroaching on racing grounds.

Despite scorching sun, hundreds of people flocked to see 46 pairs of oxen take part in the competition, which took place at an empty field in Kampong Speu province, west of capital Phnom Penh.

The oxen, adorned with colourful masks or headgear, must sprint around a one-kilometre dirt track.

“It is our version of Formula 1,” organiser Khat Sokhay said.

“We race oxcarts because they are on the brink of disappearance.”

The event is held every year to mark the end of the rice harvesting season and to welcome the Khmer New Year in mid-april.

“During the modern era (in other places), they race cars, but we race oxcarts so that the legacy of our ancestors won’t disappear,” cart driver Tang Sreang, 43, said.

Culture officials said the oxcart race was organised with the aim of preserving the tradition — which stretches back hundreds of years — for future generations.

“It is our heritage, so we must preserve it,” Sun Meanchey, director of Kampong Speu’s culture department,

said. He also voiced concerns that grounds for such races are being taken over by homes and factories.

“What worries me is that in the future when our country is more developed, rice fields will be replaced by factories,” Sun Meanchey said.

Many villagers in Cambodia rely on oxen to plough their rice fields and oxcarts were once widely used for transport.

But more and more farmers are embracing modern agricultural methods and transportation, raising fears that the old ways of doing things could be lost. — AFP