AUS student volunteers organize AUS Al Thiqah Sports Day

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) Sports Complex witnessed thrilling football and basketball matches on February 28 as students from AUS and Al Thiqah Club for the Disabled came together forming mixed teams for the AUS Al Thiqa Sports Day.

The event was held under the umbrella of the AUS Community Service and Outreach (CSO) division with AUS student volunteers heavily involved in the organization of the event, its publicity within the AUS community and in receiving the visitors from Al Thiqah Club for the Disabled.

Pooja Maniyeri, a journalism major and student volunteer, took on the responsibility of organizing the event.

 “I reached out to vendors, set up the place, worked on spreading the word with help from CSO’s social media and so on. I have been volunteering in Al Thiqah Club for the Disabled for three semesters now. I usually visit every week to teach English and computer basics to students there. In my daily conversations with them, I could see their passion for sports. The sports day is an annual event, and this time I had the honor of organizing it with the help of Ms. Aisha Ali and Ms. Amawi El Khalifa, our community service champions,” she said.

Twenty-five student volunteers participated in the event, which Maniyeri said brought everyone joy.

“It allowed AUSers and Al Thiqah Club members to interact with each other in friendly competitions and fun-filled activities. It is important for people of all abilities to participate in these events to promote harmony, happiness and inclusivity. Volunteering has taught me how to make a difference in the community through simple acts. These small gestures when taken together can make a huge difference,” she said.

Ahmed Noureldin, a first-year marketing student, said that he volunteered out of a need to give back to the community.

“While speaking with my friends at Al Thiqa Club, I gained experiences that you would not find inside a classroom. Volunteering taught me that the world is more complex than we think and that there is still good in people. It also showed me that God is generous. I love meeting people from all walks of life, and if I can offer any kind of help, it would be amazing. I keep learning a lot from these experiences and I would never like that to stop,” he said.

This is the sixth edition of Al Thiqah Sports Day at AUS. The university has been collaborating with Al Thiqah Club for the Disabled for more than seven years, carrying out student initiatives that aim to contribute to the community of people of determination. This has included teaching students with disabilities English and computer skills, and hosting sports events, talks and family events. 

AUS has built strong partnerships with many national and international organizations, offering students diverse and unlimited volunteering experiences. Community service and volunteerism are entrenched in AUS’ institutional values, among which are offering a transformative experience that prepares students to become outward-looking and responsible individuals ready to join the world, and offering opportunities for active engagement that contributes to the development of society.

For more information on community service and volunteerism at AUS, www.aus.edu/life-at-aus/student-life/community-involvement/community-out....