[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="15225,15224,15222,15223"] Saudi Gazette report Although volunteer work is not organized or supervised by the authorities in the Kingdom, the number of volunteers is on the rise, especially among young Saudis. Volunteer work has become popular among young men and women ever since the 2009 Jeddah floods left many residents stranded in dire need of food, clothing and shelter. At the time, countless young men and women set shining examples of volunteer work. Long after photos of volunteers preparing food and emergency relief packages went viral and stories of their efforts were reported in the Arab media, a large number of young men and women have continued to show interest in volunteer work in various fields that serve their community and country, Al-Riyadh daily reports. Although a good thing, the efforts need to be better organized so that they bear fruit and bring greater benefit and advantage to society, not to mention encourage others to play a more active role in society. Abdulmohsin Al-Tamimi said volunteering has given him an opportunity to not only take part in humanitarian assistance efforts but also added to his life and personality. "Volunteering opens up new avenues, lets you meet new people and make more friends. It has become an integral part of my life and I do not see myself living without it," he said while expressing hope that more members of society will appreciate volunteers and recognize the efforts they exert for the greater interest of the public. According to volunteer Maram Al-Sayegh, most volunteer work in the Kingdom involves humanitarian assistance or women who are in need of help. Al-Sayegh often acts as a program supervisor and helps women interested in becoming volunteers join the program. "I have noticed an increase in the number of female volunteers who want to serve their community. I always sit with them and explore their interests so that I sign them up for the right program," she said while expressing hope that more women will continue to sign up. Faris Al-Harbi, member of the Board of Directors of Erada Volunteer Group, which provides support to volunteers all over the country, said the main problem for volunteer work is that there are not many places available to organize events. "We want to spur young men and women to take on volunteer work and train them but there are not enough places to conduct such activities in," he added while explaining that most malls do not grant approval immediately, while some outright refuse to gives spaces if the volunteers are women because authorities have set special conditions for female volunteers in public places. Most volunteer work requests come from small businesses and groups that do not offer certificates for participants. Today, most universities grant credits to students who do volunteer work in the field and to prove this, the students need certificates. Al-Harbi said there should be a central organization that hones the skills of young volunteers and certify they are trained and ready to undertake volunteer work.
