DBWRF Conducts Nationwide Toy Donation Drive On the Occasion of International Day of Happiness

MUMBAI, April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

Children from the community donated toys to orphanages and hospitals across seven states under the Power of Giving initiative  

For children, playing with toys is an everyday affair, and at times, one which is most taken for granted. So much so, that at times, it is a natural tendency to forget that there are children in India, who are absolved of the happiness that is derived from playing with them. Keeping this in mind, on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness, the Dawoodi Bohra Women's Association for Religious Freedom (DBWRF) flagged off a nationwide toy donation drive, led by children from the community. The children handpicked toys from their own collection and donated them to the needy. The drive, which was held across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, was a part of DBWRF's Power of Giving initiative, and brought to the fore values of generosity and selflessness that Dawoodi Bohra children are raised with.

In Maharashtra, the toy donation drive was conducted in Kandivali, Mumbai, where a group of women and their offspring distributed toys and stationery to underprivileged children at the Bharat Bharati High School. They also brought smiles to street children studying at a temple nearby, by handing out games and food packets. Members of the DBWRF further spread happiness when they donated toys and books to wards at a prominent cancer hospital in the heart of Bengaluru. Vizag (Andhra Pradesh), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) saw orphans smiling with joy at the toys they received. Enthusiasm was high as children wrapped their gifts in a smiley covered paper to distribute at Ahmedabad's Mother Teresa Orphanage Home, while the atmosphere at Ujjain's Sewa Bharati Orphanage was nothing short of a gala.

The drive received an overwhelming response from organisations across the country, with all of them expressing gratitude to DBWRF for the thoughtful gesture. It also had a profound impact on the minds of the children who donated their toys, as they were able to see the difference they made to the lives of orphans and those in need. Calling this a novel way to celebrate the end of their exams, the parents and children were more than happy to participate in this endeavour.

Ms. Rashida Diwan, Chairperson, DBWRF, who spearheaded the drive, said, "The toy donation drive has been an eye opener for both us, as well as our children, and has truly made us grateful to God for how much He has given us. It was a humbling experience to see the smiles on the children's faces."

Ms. Samina Kanchwala, Secretary, DBWRF, echoed her sentiments saying, "We have a lot to be grateful for, and at times we tend to forget about those who are not as fortunate as ourselves. The drive was a reminder of that, and it gives us great pride to be able to make a difference in the lives of those in need. As Dawoodi Bohras, we are raised to be generous and selfless, and as mothers, we bring up our children with these values, and always encourage them to spread happiness in everything that they do."

The Power of Giving initiative was inspired by the teaching and principles of the community's spiritual leader. Dawoodi Bohra women have already conducted several outreach programmes across the country, which includes first aid training, digital literacy programmes, food donation drives, medical camps and more.

About DBWRF 

In May 2017, a few Dawoodi Bohra women stalwarts initiated a movement to bring together the Dawoodi Bohra Women of India on a common platform to preserve and protect the beliefs, customs, culture and religious rights of Dawoodi Bohra Women. And thus was born DBWRF which today represents tens of thousands of Dawoodi Bohra women in India. For more information, visit https://dbwrf.org/  

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