Background

In 2015, our team was approached by a local charity organization in New Delhi to coordinate a Christmas charity event for Rohingya refugee Muslims. The Rohingya people had fled persecution in Myanmar and were living in difficult conditions in refugee camps in India. The charity organization wanted to bring some joy and hope to these refugees during the holiday season.

Problem

The main challenge we faced was how to organize an event that would be meaningful and enjoyable for the Rohingya refugees while also being culturally sensitive and respectful of their traditions. We needed to find a way to bridge the gap between our own cultural background and that of the refugees, while also ensuring that the event would be safe and well-organized.

Solution

We began by researching Rohingya culture and traditions so that we could better understand their needs and preferences. We then worked closely with the charity organization to plan an event that would include activities such as singing, dancing, storytelling, and gift-giving. We made sure that all of these activities were appropriate for the refugees' age groups and cultural backgrounds.

We also recruited volunteers from both our team and the local community who could speak Rohingya or other languages spoken by the refugees. This helped us communicate more effectively with them during the event. Finally, we made sure that all safety measures were taken into account, including providing adequate security personnel.

Impact

The event brought joy and hope to over 500 Rohingya refugee Muslims during a difficult time in their lives.
The volunteers who participated gained a deeper understanding of Rohingya culture and traditions.
The charity organization received positive feedback from both the refugees themselves and members of the local community who attended the event.
The success of this event inspired us to continue working with marginalized communities in the future.

Team

Ashok Kumar - Project Manager
- Oversaw the planning and execution of the event
- Liaised with the charity organization and volunteers
Sara Khan - Volunteer Coordinator
- Recruited and managed volunteers for the event
- Provided training to volunteers on cultural sensitivity and safety measures
Mohammed Ali - Cultural Advisor
- Provided guidance on Rohingya culture and traditions
- Liaised with Rohingya community leaders to ensure their needs were met during the event
Jessica Lee - Communications Coordinator
- Drafted communications materials for the event, including flyers and social media posts in multiple languages spoken by the refugees
- Liaised with local media outlets to promote the event and raise awareness about the plight of Rohingya refugees in India.

Coordinating Culturally Sensitive Charity Event