The Covid-19 pandemic has made people more aware of the need to help those less fortunate than themselves, a UAE charity chief said.
Anne Edmondson, chairwoman of Gulf for Good, which helps poor children around the world, said she has noticed increased interest in her organisation in recent months.
“We are finding there is a bigger appetite from people to get involved, despite the continuing impact of Covid-19,” she said.
“Maybe it’s because the pandemic has given people time to reflect on what really matters in life and they want to make their actions count.”
The pandemic has given people time to reflect on what really matters in life and they want to make their actions count
Anne Edmondson
Gulf for Good, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, raises money for children in deprived areas by organising events such as hiking and mountain climbing on famous peaks such as Everest and Kilimanjaro.
Ms Edmondson said the eagerness of UAE residents to become involved had not declined despite the obvious hurdles the pandemic had created.
“Maybe it’s because there’s a greater urge to travel now because of the restrictions on movement since the pandemic began,” said Ms Edmondson, who juggles her job as a primary school teacher in Dubai with running the non-profit organisation.
“There’s always been a need to give as well, but maybe people are feeling there is more of a need than ever to help others.”
The organisation was founded in 2001 to raise funds to help buy an ambulance for a war-torn community in Namibia.
This resulted in 49 people climbing Kilimanjaro and raising enough money to buy four Land Rover ambulances in Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania.
In the ensuing decades, the group has organised more than 90 challenges in 27 countries in which about 1,600 people have taken part.
Participation in Gulf for Good events outside the UAE requires a contribution of Dh5,000 per person.
Almost $4 million was raised for 61 charities, and this has been used to build schools, hospitals, homes and playgrounds.
In 202, in the midst of the pandemic, Gulf for Good was still able to raise Dh600,000 for children around the world.
With international travel off-limits, Ms Edmondson and her team had to think outside the box to continue to raise money.
“We had to move to the virtual world and we organised a virtual run of Burj Khalifa, which has now become an annual event,” she said.
The event involves tower runners climbing almost 3,000 stairs to the 160th level of the world’s tallest building, with people able to take part remotely by using stairs in their own homes.
Now that travel restrictions are easing in many places, Gulf for Good has planned a number of events for later this year, including a climb to the Mount Everest base camp in October.
But Ms Edmondson said the uncertainty caused by the pandemic meant the organisation would focus many of its resources close to home in the short-term.
“We’ve had to take a hard look at where we are most likely going to be able to travel,” said Ms Edmondson, from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“That has pushed us to having a regional focus because it’s more likely we’ll be able to travel without as many complications if we went further.”
Gulf for Good is planning to hold a bike ride in the eastern UAE in December.
That the charity organises events, rather than simply requiring cash donations, makes it an appealing prospect for many people, she said.
“The mission of Gulf for Good is we want to help children around the world have a happy and sustainable life,” she said.
“But the wellbeing aspect for people taking part is massive. They feel good about themselves for training and climbing the likes of Kilimanjaro.
“It’s very empowering.”
Another unlikely stream of revenue for the charity in the last year was its Thrift for Good spin-off, which helped to raise an average of Dh60,000 a month since opening on The Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, last year.
“It’s a typical thrift store, like Oxfam back in Northern Ireland,” she said.
“Every man and his dog wanted to use it during the pandemic because people still needed to buy stuff even though they had lost jobs and money was tight.”
The store sells donated clothes that cost between Dh10 and Dh50 per piece.
Gulf for Good is also renowned for organising hikes in the Emirates in the winter season.
“We’ve grown quite a strong hiking community over the years,” Ms Edmondson said.
“We have a full programme ahead and it’s a good way to explore the UAE and the great outdoors.”
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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RESULT
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
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Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
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Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Asian Cup 2019
Quarter-final
UAE v Australia, Friday, 8pm, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Mobile phone packages comparison
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
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