A group of enthusiastic divers have started a voluntary scheme to clean up the beaches of the Bride of the Red Sea to make the area healthier for visitors and the local habitat. Although inexperienced in this area of work, the young group remains unperturbed by the task ahead of them. “Few people, especially young people, are in the habit of doing volunteer work. There is a certain recalcitrance when it comes to social work,” the group says, “despite the young enjoying a high level of culture and sense of belonging.” The aim of the group's work is to create awareness among frequenters of the coastline and the Jeddah public of the importance of reviving diving at the Jeddah Corniche, an activity which has fallen off in recent years due to the accumulation of vast amounts of garbage on the sea bed which has in turn led to the flight or death of many species of living organisms that once thrived in its habitat. Promotion of volunteer work “The idea is to instill in our youth the culture of volunteer work,” says Reem Ahmed Makki, an organizer of the group. “We want to encourage them to participate in upgrading the standard of social work,” she says, “which has become of great importance in current times, complementing the role played by the government, in areas that don't require the involvement of official bodies.” Incentives for youth Group member Waleed Bin Khalid says that his hope is that by taking part in this effort young people will be motivated to engage in different kinds of social work and make the best use of their free-time and employ their energies to the benefit of society at large. Message of awareness Rafi' Thamer does not hide his joy at being involved in the campaign. “It strives at bottom to send out a message to frequenters of the Corniche to protect the environment and spread the culture of volunteer work in the field,” he says. Hassan Bin Abdulrazaq says that any effort, however small, can in the foreseeable future bring about a veritable change in society. “Our youth have the skills, energies and mental capacity to really take part in the development and building of society, more so than any other age category.” A good impression Salman Al-Ahmedi says that he is taking part in the group's efforts to help give a good impression of youth and carry their message promoting volunteer work. Cultural message Munir Al-Jihani says the group is calling out to the people of Jeddah asking for a city free of garbage and the abandonment of the habit of leaving rubbish behind. “Throwing garbage from the car window, for example, is an uncivilized habit,” he says. Mohammed Bin Ahmed Mahjoub says that the group's volunteer work has economic benefits for the region. “The sea attracts a lot of tourists,” he says, “and lovers of diving. A clean coastline and sea will only serve to attract greater numbers of visitors to the Corniche and consequently increase the region's income.”
