REPRESENTING SHEIKH ZAYED HUMANITARIAN DAY.

So now it's time to look back at Ramadan Care Packages' 13. Time to collect our thoughts (and photos!), time to be thankful for all that went well and to learn from all that could have gone better. Looking back at the three-day event and the three months of preparation that went into it, the thought that comes foremost to mind is "WOW! Dubai, you did it again!" 5000 hefty Care Packages, 10,000 beautiful volunteers, fantastic partner Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, huge Sheikh Rashid Hall, amazing Adopt-a-Camp team(family) and a fresh start in life for 5000 labourers.

How can I begin to thank you? There are no words powerful enough. The sense of true community and of being part of something larger than ourselves was evident throughout the three-day event. Gigantic shout-out to Layla Derraz, Sophie Shellim and Dania Keilani (the Dubai Chamber angels) who with the support of their entire Chamber and special help from the Dubai World Trade Centre team, poured their hearts, time and minds into planning what has become the biggest charity event of the year. They were partners in every sense of the word and their caring, meticulous attention to detail resulted in an inclusive, great experience for the volunteers whilst always keeping focus on the 5000 men this entire event was for.

Adopt-a-Camp's team of volunteers in the blue shirts (also lovingly referred to as the Adopt-a-Camp Family) come from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and age-groups. All of them committed mega chunks of their personal time and energy to be a member of the team. I am so proud of each and every one of them. From my Personal Assistant, Sarah, who was exceptional - to Wahbeez, who's done everything with me for the past five years - to the pros who've grown up volunteering at Care Packages events to the newbies who jumped right into it like they were born to do this, you are one truly selfless bunch of people and it was an honour to work with you.

Also, massive thanks to someone who is more than a celebrity, he is a "super" star in the true sense of the word. Bollywood superstar, Arjun Rampal, flew down to help distribute the 5000 Care Packages to the labourers at the camps. No red carpet, no protocol, the man was on the trucks sweating it out like the rest of the volunteers, handing out the packages and bantering with the beaming men. For the men, seeing someone from home come specially to visit them and show them that their hard work for their families is not ignored and that they are appreciated, was a gift of exceptional kindness. It was even more poignant during Ramadan, when the men miss their families tremendously. Arjun, thank you so much for bringing magic into the lives of men who otherwise have none.

A humbling thought throughout the event was that this was THE Charity event representing the new Sheikh Zayed Humanitarian Day in remembrance of H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zayed was not only the Founder of the U.A.E., he was also the Father of the Nation, and it was a great privilege to be chosen to represent carrying on his humanitarian legacy.

At the end of it all, Dubai, it comes back down to you. You sponsored the Care Packages, you assembled the Care Packages and you distributed the Care Packages to thousands of delighted men. You proved that it doesn't matter where we come from or where we're going, when we put our hearts to it, we CAN come together as one, we CAN make a difference, we CAN bring happiness and a fresh start in life to our fellow man. On behalf of myself and the 5000 men whose lives you've changed, thank you.
Love, Saher.