A volunteer sharing his experience at the function jointly organized by Warif and UNDP at UN House in Diplomatic Quarters, Riyadh.

Several volunteers of Princess Al-Anood Center for Youth Development (Warif) were honored for their “extraordinary” voluntary services at a function jointly held by Warif and the UN Development Program (UNDP).

Warif, which works to instil a culture of volunteerism among Saudi youth, gathered its selected volunteers, both male and female, recently at the UN House in the diplomatic quarter to honor them as also to acknowledge their valuable contribution toward the society.

Warif volunteers who came here from across the Kingdom to share their valuable experience with each other expressed great excitement about their volunteerism efforts.

Speaking to Arab News on the sideline of the program, Moath Alhawas, a volunteer from Al-Ahsa, said: “A volunteer acts with the spirit of giving care and at the same time encourages others to follow the example that he or she sets. I am glad that I have been honored for my work.”

While urging other youth of his age to involve themselves in good moral behavior and ethical treatment, he said: “If you try it, you will feel better by extending all sorts of help to others.”

Bedour Almaouash, who was acknowledged for his acts of watering plants and feeding birds, said that every act of volunteerism carries weight. “We just need to be humble and do whatever good work we can do.”

While talking about her volunteering work at the university level by extending cooperation to new-comers and fellow class mates, Lubna Alsamari said that volunteerism is founded on the high value of the collective efforts of individuals to strengthen social fabric and strengthen civic sense among the people.

Earlier, Khosina Abu Naji shared his valuable experience on corporate volunteering. Other volunteers who were honored on the occasion included Sara Alfahaad in the individual volunteer category, Osman Khojali for distributing hot drinks during winter to workers and laborers, Majid Alrabizi for his Najran experience in volunteering and Munira Alsarri for her volunteering work in Al-Qassim.

Warif and UNDP hailed their voluntary services and described the young generation as the bright future of the Kingdom. Notably, Warif has the mandate of empowering the youth to fully participate in development of their communities through volunteerism, which is deeply rooted in national and traditional norms.

Warif has sought the UNDP’s support to provide assistance in building its individual and institutional capacities, as well as in identifying new youth volunteerism niches in the Kingdom.

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