The breakfast started in 2015 when the two working mums decided to raise some Ramadan funds for the security guards at St Christopher’s School, where both their children are pupils.
Lebanese-Bahraini, Nancy, explains: “Ramadan is a time for giving and the guards are great; they don’t earn much but they do a great job. They go beyond their duties and all the kids love them; in fact, one of them is soon retiring and my son and his classmates had a collection for him out of their pocket money!”
Aniseh, a Bahraini national, adds: “The event is run under the umbrella of the school, but the organisation is down to us. And, as well as the security guards, we also support local children’s societies for those with cancer, autism and Down syndrome and orphans.
“In the first year, we had around 100 people attending. Last year it had grown to 500!”
The event takes place at the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, Seef Area on Thursday, May 10, from 9am to 1pm and includes a sumptuous breakfast buffet and a chance to meet up and socialise. Tickets are priced at BD15 in advance or BD20 at the door. Cash raised from ticket sales and raffles goes to support the school guards, while sponsorship funding goes towards the local children’s charities.
Each year, the two women come up with something different, and this year’s breakfast theme will include a fashion show featuring +973 Artisanat Gallery as well as a Fashion Market bazaar with 30 confirmed vendors offering clothing and accessories, jewellery and various other women’s items.
The event’s success has grown so much that, this year, the United Nations local office has issued a statement of support for its work in supporting children’s development and UN resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme representative, Dr Amin El Sharkawi, will be the keynote speaker.
Organisation falls squarely on the two women, who have been working on the project for several months and, with the amount raised growing with each event, Aniseh is hopeful that 2018 will be a bumper year. She says: “We’ve already reached beyond our expectations in sponsorship, so we’re hoping to, at least, double that.”
Nancy concludes: “To be honest, it’s a lot of work and we are both working mums, but we wanted to be able to give something back to our community. Each time we feel a great sense of achievement and satisfaction and we’re so glad to receive so much support.”
Tickets are available from the St Christopher’s School reception. For information on sponsorship call 33 831-919.
