Saudi- 20000 used textbooks given to needy students

(MENAFN- Arab News) Two Indian community organizations recently distributed 20000 used textbooks among needy parents and students across the country.
The Indian Cultural Society Jeddah (ICSJ) and Bazm-e-Osmania are the first and oldest non-resident Indian (NRI) associations in Jeddah that have been involved in social work for over 38 years.
Last year they distributed over 22000 used textbooks prior to the commencement of the new academic year. This year they collected more than 30000 of which 16000 were distributed in Jeddah 2000 in Riyadh and 2000 in Taif.
About 5000 books were discarded because they were in a poor condition while another 5000 were not reused because they were from other schools.
Arif Quraishi ICSJ and Bazm president said old uniforms bags new notebooks new and old shoes dictionaries guidebooks and stationery were also distributed.
Parents and students came from as far as Makkah Taif Madinah and Yanbu to collect the free books and other items he said.
The distribution took place at a local restaurant in Azizia district on a first-come-first-serve basis.
The textbooks collection drive began last month in which the charities urged parents and students through newspapers and posters to donate old textbooks at certain locations in Jeddah.
They were collected and arranged in bundles as per syllabus by the ICSJ and Bazm members and their families.
Those participated in organizing the book distribution included Dilshad A. Shamsi Arif Masood Siddiqui Laeeq Siddiqui Jimmy Fareed Al-Waheedy and Maqbool Pervez.