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On a sunny morning last year, Kirsti Shaheen returned to a run-down home in East Riffa
village.
The walls were bare and cracked, and only a few pieces of basic furniture broke up the concrete floor. But standing in pride of place was a gleaming washing machine, carefully covered by a rug.
“I had delivered the washing machine to the family three years ago,” explained Mrs Shaheen, “and it was so wonderful because there it was in pristine condition, in pride of place in their home. And the family remembered me and were so kind and welcoming.”
For the last seven years Mrs Shaheen and a group of friends have provided help and assistance to local families and individuals most in need in Bahrain.
Since their launch, their organisation – The Palm Association – has raised almost a quarter of a million dinars.
The group, which is run solely by women, most of whom are long-term resident expatriates, has been quietly raising money to give something back to the community that welcomed them.
“We’ve all lived here for so many years and been treated so incredibly well by Bahrain that we wanted to give something back to the country,” explained Mrs Shaheen.
Its committee members juggle jobs and families, but they have made it their mission to make a difference. They have now raised a breathtaking BD223,000.
Their charity auction and dinner at the Sheraton Hotel this Friday will push them even closer to the quarter of a million mark.
“We’re proud and grateful that we’ve raised this much so far,” said founding member, Mrs Shaheen, “and we hope that this year’s auction and dinner will help us to expand our projects.”
Currently made up of 14 women, The Palm Association has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected and proactive philanthropic organisations in the kingdom. Discussions over coffee have grown into a remarkable institution.
“What a bloody marvellous idea,” was the reaction from the late Patsy Crosse when Mrs Shaheen and Jennifer Sale told her about their idea to set up a charity to help disadvantaged Bahraini families.
“She loved the idea,” explained Debra Wakefield another of the group’s founding members, “so she organised a meeting with Shaikha Lulwa bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, head of the Children and Mothers Welfare Society, who told us to gather some friends and get the ball rolling.”
What started off as tin-shaking outside supermarkets has grown into a impressive distribution service, which last year delivered BD42,000 worth of food and goods to local families.
“In our first year we delivered just 30 food parcels, bedding and mattresses at a cost of BD497,” said Mrs Wakefield, “so something we initially thought would be very small has turned out to be so much bigger.”
Through a remarkable level of commitment, networking and inspired fundraising tactics, The Palm Association has become one of Bahrain’s most firmly established charities.
Their loyal contributors range from children’s birthday collections to large sums donated by local and international companies.
“We appreciate all contributions large or small because we see every penny as an opportunity to make a change somewhere,” said Mrs Shaheen.
The organisation’s work is diverse and extraordinarily far-reaching. Over the last seven years they have helped those in need in 20 districts of Bahrain.
Every year they provide basic electrical appliances to more than 100 families, an idea that emerged from the groups’ policy of never giving cash directly.
“We wanted to set up a charity that would allow expats to know where their money was going and white goods are physical, useful objects,” said Mrs Wakefield, “I’ve been into households with 10 children, but just two gas rings on a table to cook on. One house didn’t have a single stick of furniture, just mattresses on the floor and there were five children living there; there wasn’t even a sink in the kitchen.”
Initially the group’s founding members would go to Isa Town Market and buy goods to distribute themselves.
“The idea was to buy goods made and sold by Bahrainis and to give them to Bahrainis,” said Mrs Shaheen.
Now as their projects expand, helping families throughout the country, electronic retailer, YK Almoyyed has stepped in to help distribute and install the goods in the villages.
In addition to white goods The Palm Association also provides monthly food parcels to more than 100 needy families.
Another of the group’s major projects is financing construction work on run down houses, making them secure and livable homes.
“We recently found a couple of teenage boys living alone in a dilapidated house in Isa Town and we’re hoping to refurbish it – making it safe and comfortable for them,” said Mrs Shaheen.
One of the group’s newer schemes sponsors underprivileged Bahrainis to continue their higher education at Bahrain University, and they are currently sponsoring two girls.
Another annual scheme allows two seriously ill Bahraini children to go on a British Airways Dreamflight to Disneyworld with suitcases full of clothes, toiletries and essentials. Every year The Palm Association also provides 160 Bahraini orphans with Eid vouchers to buy clothes and sponsors six disabled or mentally challenged people to attend the Al Rahma Rehabilitation Centre.
Needy families and individuals are selected through trusted local community contacts that have been established over the years. “Our strength comes from our grass-roots contacts within the villages,” Mrs Wakefield, “and we constantly review the families that we help.”
She added: “Another part of success is because we’re completely transparent, our audited accounts are available to everyone.”
But it’s because of the 13 women’s passion and commitment that The Palm Association has achieved so much. Every month, the group’s members – Debra Wakefield, Kirsti Shaheen, Nadia Jalal, Megan El Adm, Eibhlin Crosse, Gail Fischer, Linda Love, Arwa Sayyar, Jennifer Sale, Nadia Swan, Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood, Jacqui Kooheji and Tanya Fontaine – meet to discuss their projects and new fundraising opportunities.
“It’s a case of doing it when you can, when you’ve got five minutes free at work,” said Mrs Shaheen, “but we thoroughly enjoy what we’re doing and we love our meetings.”
As testimony to the commitment of its members, only five women have left in the last seven years – and only because they have left the country. We all encourage each other, and there’s great camaraderie among us.”
Mrs Wakefield added: “The Palm Association has made such a big difference to all of our lives. Everyday I count my lucky stars.”
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