7 June 2011
Jordan
Secondhand designer bags were given new lease of life earlier this year – and helped raise more than US$ 20,000 for UNRWA into the bargain.
Five women in Amman organised a “Donate your bag for a cause” bazaar to sell used designer bags they had collected from women in Jordan and abroad.
The sale, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman on Mothers’ Day, raised US$20,212 for projects in Jerash refugee camp, the poorest of Jordan’s ten Palestinian refugee camps.
Lending a hand
Kholoud Abu Nirmeh, one of the organisers, said: “We visited Jerash camp few months ago. A lot needs to be done. My friends and I are trying to think outside the box to come up with some ways to lend the refugees a hand there. It is unattainable that UNRWA can do everything. We have a role that we should play.
“This is the second season. We collected designer bags from women in Jordan and abroad and sold them for high prices,” Kholoud continued. “This year we decided to donate the proceeds to UNRWA. It is our way to say thanks for all the effort the Agency is exerting to serve Palestine refugees.”
An UNRWA representative in Jordan said: “We thank the ladies for this fantastic donation for the people of Jerash camp, and their interest and support for the refugees and Agency alike. We hope to see more positive initiatives like this from the local community.”
Donate your Bag for a Noble Cause
Donate your Bag for a Noble Cause is a charity project that collects and re-sells secondhand designer bags. In started in 2009 when a group of volunteers collected a range of bags and held a sale.
“Last year, the proceeds managed to help hundreds of families in need through HRH Princess Sumaya’s office for Humanitarian Funds. This year, we hope that our small contribution can make a difference,” said Kholoud.
Donate your Bag Facebook page
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More about Jerash refugee camp
More about UNRWA in Jordan
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