The Story of how Al-Jasser was created

Logo Sarah Drew Oct 2011

The story of Al-Jasser told by one of our founders; Shaima Aljeeb.

Al-Jasser started out as a simple idea created by three best friends, who have been together in the YES Program a program that enabled us to study abroad for a year. We were and still are high schoolers. Sarah, Abdulla and I are still great friends, even though we didn’t volunteer in Bahrain prior to our travel that much, I can assure you, we have volunteered a lot last year.

Al-Jasser was just a plan, something we created over Ramadan, while we would chat on Skype and hang out in Caribou Cafe. We created it, because we were somewhat required too, not exactly, more like asked to. Our program said this:

“Upon their (alumni) return to their home countries, the students apply their leadership skills in their home countries. In addition, alumni groups have formed and been involved with many community service activities including clothing drives, mentoring younger children and English teaching, immunization drives, and much more.”

And one of their goals is:

“To encourage the exchange of ideas, values, and experiences among young people by exposing these young scholars to leadership belief systems, civil society principles, and community service involvement.”

Thus, we (Sarah, Abdulla and I) felt obliged to do something, we are the 6^th cycle/year alumni, it’s been 6 years of Bahraini International students and no one has done anything? Let us be the beginning.

I have always wanted to volunteer in Bahrain, but never had the chance too, I was sometimes considered too young, or no one can drive me, I wasn’t qualified to, or because my parents told me “Shaima, you have to study! Not volunteer”. The only person who truly encouraged me to volunteer was my older sister Alyaa, she got to volunteer though unlike me, she had the time, and it did benefit her academically, she needed it because it was a graduation requirement, and because she is an occupational therapy major, thus volunteering in hospitals would give her great experience. And me, I was just a kid, who would not benefit from volunteering.

Shaima Presenting in TEDxYouth@Manama

But, during my year abroad, I got the opportunity to volunteer, I had to (because it was a requirement to volunteer for twenty hours). So, I started my year and learned a lot, I got the chance to learn valuable lessons from Americans. Giving my time to a special cause – volunteering was the most rewarding lesson. I was so enthusiastic that I got a reward for volunteering, the Presidential Award, it was great! In U.S, it didn’t matter how old you were, or if you’re just a student, there are opportunities, they even advertise it! They want your help! And that is how I learned the value and importance of volunteerism.

Abdulla receiving the certificate for the Lecture by
  جائزة الشيخ عيسى للتطوع العربي

And I wanted to spread that knowledge upon my return to Bahrain, and two of my great friends shared the same thought. And that is how we created Al-Jasser over summer break. We were “dying” for something to do, somewhere to go, instead of staying at home, or going to the mall, feeling like whatever. We wanted to help people in need, make a difference, use our free time wisely and put it to good use. And we knew it would benefit us, in some many ways! Such as; meeting new people, making positive friendships, having our CV or our College App show our interest in the community and the sense of personal satisfaction. There are so many great benefits to volunteering.

We hope that you join us, perhaps not particularly Al-Jasser, but join us in our mission, become a social entrepreneur, a volunteer, serve your country, benefit yourself, make a change.

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