Manama, Nov 11 (BNA): Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA) announced the launch of ‘Thank You Bahrain’. The event, patronised by His Highness the Chairman of the Royal Charity Organisation, Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will be held on December 6 at the National Stadium Car Park in Riffa from 2pm.
The BFEA said that the theme this year is ‘Bringing Us All Closer Together’. Thank You Bahrain will this year be the first official event to launch the National Day celebrations. The highlight this year will be the drive to raise funds for launching the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations Shelter Project.
Secretary General of the BFEA, Betsy Matheison called it “an important humanitarian project -a residential sanctuary where expatriates in need will be offered legal, medical and emotional support.”
“We have been working on the shelter project for over a year now and we are very grateful to all the ministries and government authorities who have supported and guided us along the way,” she said.
The BFEA Shelter is the first of its kind in the region and is further evidence of the all-enveloping caring nature of both the leadership and our communities, she said.
The shelter will be funded purely by donations and Matheison expressed optimism on the success of the project because of the kind and generous contributions from the Bahraini community.
Many embassies have been highly supportive of this shelter project and some have already pledged financial support as well as practical support as they know very well the overwhelming need for such a shelter, she added.
The December 6 event will also feature a ‘Souk’ area from where Bahraini and expatriate needy families can sell their wares. The stalls will be allotted free of cost and embassies are being requested to nominate expatriate families, while local community leaders are requested to nominate Bahraini families who can benefit from this initiative.
The BFEA has already formed the shelter launch executive committee, representing the ‘One Bahrain one family’ ethos, she added.
The committee members are Ambassador Karime Al Shaker, Yousef Salahuddin, Reverend Chris Butt of St Christopher’s Cathedral, Robert Ainey, Hemang from YOUR FM, Khan Mohamed, Mrs Afnan Zayani, Mrs Ava Garbutt and Mrs Wedad Al Moosawi.
The previous Thank You Bahrain event in January was an outstanding success with more than 30,000 Bahrainis and expatriates taking part.
Over 600,000 expatriates from all four corners of the globe have chosen to make Bahrain their home.
“The expatriates of Bahrain love this country, and Thank you Bahrain is a way for us to express our love for Bahrain, its leadership, and its wonderful people who have welcomed us into their homes,” Matheison said.
Embassies, ministries and authorities, schools, universities, churches and other religious institutes, clubs, societies and associations will each have a stand to showcase their activities, services and history.
Schoolchildren will be performing a tribute show of songs and dances and there will be a large soft play area with lots of entertainment to keep all the family entertained, she added.