Eid Mubarak! Good Samaritans of Hyderabad ‘gift’ umbrellas to vendors

Hyderabad: As the summer heat descended upon the bustling streets of Hyderabad, a group of NGOs, schools, hospitals, and individuals rallied together to support the city’s hardworking street vendors.

In a remarkable initiative called “Gift a Shade,” the group distributed large umbrellas to the vendors, offering much-needed protection from the blistering sun and enabling them to continue their livelihoods without fear of heatstroke.

Led by Maria Arifuddin, director of Madina and Global Group of Institutions, the Gift a Shade initiative is a heart-warming example of how individuals and organisations can come together to make a positive impact in their community. With their collective efforts, the Hum Hyderabadi group has already distributed 675 umbrellas to date, with an ambitious target of distributing 2,000 in total.

Maria, who is also a part of the Access Foundation NGO, said, “Our aim is to protect the street vendors who work tirelessly in the heat to earn their livelihood. We want to ensure that they can continue to work without the fear of heatstroke and other health issues.”

The initiative is being led by the Hum Hyderabadi group, which consists of several NGOs, including the Social Data Initiatives Forum (SDIF), Samaya Foundation, and Springfield Schools, among others.

Speaking about the initiative, Maria said, “Gift a Shade initiative is a heart-warming example of how individuals and organisations can come together to make a positive impact on their community. The programme is part of our school curriculum and helps students develop a sense of social responsibility.”

The initiative involved a collective effort from students, parents, and volunteers who donated funds amounting to Rs. 500 per umbrella. Maria explained, “The students involved in the initiative learned valuable lessons through this experience. We targeted communities with a mixed population to promote social harmony and peace. Students from high school and middle school age groups, along with some staff members, were involved in the initiative.”

Volunteers from Madina and Global Group of Institutions went to Monda market in Secunderabad on Monday and distributed umbrellas to street vendors.

Maria highlighted that this initiative is not the first time that the Madina schools have taken up a social cause.

For the Turkish crisis, Madina schools were a collection point for material, and the students and staff volunteered to send it by cargo to the Turkish consulate. “Our schools have always been committed to making a difference in society,” she added.