Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
If you are looking for an extra pair of hands to carry out your social cause, help is just a telephone call away.
The group, called Bahrain Volunteer's Bank, boasts a 700-strong membership, and is ready to help out with any non-religious or apolitical activities.
Formed a year-and-a-half ago with just 15 enthusiastic members, the Volunteer's Bank now has a strong network of Bahrain's youngsters of all ages, nationalities, faiths and communities, who currently operate out of the Wide Horizon office in Juffair.
A brainchild of Bahraini Mohammed Al Dashti, 19, an aircraft engineering student, the bank aims to utilise the energies of young teenagers in a fruitful and challenging way.
Mohammed explained: "We believe that age does not matter and just the way you can go to an ordinary bank for money or a blood bank for blood, you can come to us for volunteers.
"Our youngest member is 14 and the oldest is 48. Volunteering is unique as here we work on our own initiative.
"Often young people are dismissed as people who are not experienced and do not have enough knowledge. This bank aims to enable young people get an opportunity to get together, do work, have fun and learn at the same time."
Along with Mohammed the young leaders who steer the group's activities are nursing student Yasmin Ali, 21, Grade 11 student Layla Adel, 16, medical students Ahmed Al Khateeb, Mohammed Asadulla, and Yousif Saeed, all 18, and Maryam Al Sherooqi, a social worker at the Estiqlal School.
When approached for help, word is spread through SMS, telephone calls and emails.
Ahmed said: "We have representatives in most schools where we have members and we have never had any problem garnering the right numbers. There have been problems such as transport and clashes with study time but it has somehow always worked out."
In the summer of 2006, the group came together to plant 5,000 trees in Manama and in June this year they helped the Ministry of Electricity and Water to fit special filters in Bahrain's mosques to help conserve water.
The group believes in encouraging interaction between the older and younger generations and 24 recently got together to organise a friendly football match with UCO Parents Care Centre at the Al Hidd club.
The team leaders also believe in rewarding committed volunteers. On one occasion the team organised 'a perfect day' and 30 members visited various centres such as UCO Parents Care Centre, Supreme Council for Women among others.
This summer the group organised a paper recycling project where five tonnes of waste paper was converted into recycled paper that was later used as canvas to make posters and other decorative items.
The group has been supported by various philanthropists. The Volunteer's Bank is also in the process of being officially registered.
As team leaders they say that they have a great responsibility. Participants and volunteers have a strict code to follow and those who do not follow rules or are found fooling around are warned.
"We are answerable to parents who trust in us and send these youngsters to be part of different projects. We are friends but we have very formal relationships and we want to be role models for younger members," said Yasmin.
l Anyone who wants to join the group or need some extra help, email bhvolunteers@gmail.com or call 3662 1199.
