While to many Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayer, the season is about much more than that. People use Ramadan as a time to purify their souls, practice charity and refocus their attention on others.
This is no different for businesses. Ramadan is considered one of the best times for companies, no matter how large or small, to give back to the community. Many business owners who wish to invest in their local community may be at a loss as to how to contribute. At Bayt.com, we believe that businesses have a variety of creative ways to give back to their community.
Here are 7 things companies can do to give back this Ramadan.
Regulars in shopping malls across the region are familiar with the collection boxes where people are able to drop off items they want to donate: food items, clothes, etc. Do the same in your company. Collect non-perishable food items that are most needed, and then take your employees and go on food drives to the less fortunate areas in your city. In the UAE, there is a particular drive by some businesses – including Bayt.com – to help laborers and others less well off. Each year, hundreds donate food, bedding, toiletries and clothes, which are then handed out to workers.
According to the Bayt.com ‘Ramadan in the Middle East and North Africa Workplace’ poll, June 2016, 94.9% of professionals in the region give more to charity during Ramadan, so your employees could be more willing to participate in collecting money for charity during the holy month. Many companies tend to push fundraising during Ramadan. Agree with your team on a charity or cause that you would like to help and let them participate in raising funds. A great way to encourage them is by promising to double whatever amount they collect!
Some businesses, like Bayt.com, offer mentoring or training programs open to local community members. You can offer internship programs for high school and college students or even sponsor education opportunities for those in need. At Bayt.com, we sponsor students in several universities, including Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Jordan and Bir Zeit University in Palestine, by providing students with tuition fees, internships and training opportunities.
Many businesses are now encouraging employees to volunteer by offering paid time off for volunteering. A business can show its support for the community by giving employees a specific amount of time each month, quarter or year, for volunteer work. This boosts employee morale while also increasing the company’s community involvement. At Bayt.com, for example, our employees are not only encouraged to donate, they are also encouraged to join as volunteers and help put a smile on the faces of those who are less fortunate.
More and more companies are opting to organize charity events for orphans or the elders. You can join in as well. Contact an orphanage or an elderly care home in your country and book a day to go and brighten their day! You can ask your employees to help organize the event or plan for activities to be carried out during the visit.
All year round, you find companies and individuals giving money, food and other “physical” items. Make this Ramadan different by offering skills and knowledge. We at Bayt.com are always looking for ways to give back, so, in addition to providing all the types of financial support mentioned above, we are also on the look out for new projects to give job seekers across the region free career advice and CV writing tips.
You can support your community while also encouraging your employees to have fun by holding a contest, for example. Each employee chooses a local charity and instead of giving away prizes, money goes to the charities chosen by the winners.
No matter how big or small you are, you can always give back to your community. Make sure that, when you choose the organizations you want to work with, you always choose trustworthy partners. Bayt.com, for example, partners with Tkiyet Um Ali in Jordan and Dubai Cares in the UAE to provide food and donations to the needy in each country.
