Ushering in the New Year on a charitable note

Sherry Aggarwal Gupta

Indian Meet Up Group, a group of young Indian expatriates in Doha, entered into 2017 with an act of charity. Group Founder Ankit Aggarwal thought of a ‘Charity trip to a labour camp’ on January 1, to mark the New Year.

The group has around 100 active members, out of which 43 contributed a QR3,900 to be given as donation to a labour camp in Doha. The group led by Aggarwal bought things of daily use such as detergent packets, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, fresh fruit, biscuits, chocolates and milk to distribute amongst the labourers at the camp on New Year.

"We prepared 100 packets of items of daily use, besides rice and clothes. We also took a cake with us to celebrate New Year at the Labour camp,” said Aggarwal.

“We could not start off our year better than this. Working for happiness of others is often spoken about but practised rarely. I am glad that I was a part of this team and came here. My heart is filled with emotions that are hard to express,” said Imran Khalil, who celebrated his birthday and New Year at the labour camp.

Besides distributing household and food items at the labour camp, the group members also helped labourers make a call home through their own mobile phones. The gesture brought tears of happiness into the eyes of many at the camp. The labourers blessed the youngsters for their noble act.

“We will go to a different camp now on January 26 (India’s Republic Day). For this charity effort, I had asked members to contribute as per their wish and small contributions by all made New Year a big event for these people,” Aggarwal said.