‘Cookies for a Cause’, the annual fundraising campaign initiated by the Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG), has raised AED 54,800 to aid prisoners languishing in jails for non-payment of debts. This amount, raised in 2019, almost doubles the amount collected the previous year.

54 SGG Brownies (7 to 11 years) and Guides (12 to 15 years) sold a range of chocolate chip, oat and peanut butter cookies as part of the campaign, launched in collaboration with Faraj Fund, a charity set up to help the cause of prisoners jailed for failure to repay their debts.

The fundraising initiative is in line with SGG’s commitment to inculcate the values of giving and instill a philanthropic mindset in the young guides and brownies.

‘Cookies for a Cause’ kicked off in 2019 at the 7^th edition of Sharjah International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFF) in October. The girl guides and brownies continued their fundraising activities at the 38^th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) in November and was also present at the 2^nd Sharjah Carnival for Children & Youth held during the same month. The girls also visited the Australian School to raise funds for this just cause.

According to Shaikha Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Manager of SGG, “’Cookies for a Cause’ was set up to allies with our commitment to help our Guides and Brownies effect change in real, concrete ways. By empowering our girls to give back to the community, we are creating a generation of inspiring, empathetic leaders who will be motivated to support socially impactful activities as they grow up.”

“The campaign is more than just about raising funds for a cause,” she added. “A host of workshops and activities have helped the young girls develop additional skills in varied field such as baking, business management and persuasive marketing techniques, leading to an overall personality development.”

A representor from Faraj Fund, said: “Through their fundraising campaign ‘Cookies for a Cause’, Sharjah Girl Guides exude a positive image of Emirati society as it enables the girls to grow into responsible citizens supporting charitable and humanitarian causes. Our collaboration with SGG stems from our commitment to social responsibility as we dedicate the proceeds of the campaign to provide relief to inmates and their families across the UAE.”

‘Cookies for a Cause’ is a voluntary annual campaign launched by Sharjah Girl Guides. It has successfully helped many people in need, such as orphans and children with incurable diseases. It has also supported the Pink Caravan and the UAE Down Syndrome Association.

Following in the global Girl Scouts and Girl Guides cookie-selling tradition, launched nearly a century ago to raise funds for guiding activities, the SGG’s campaign aims to encourage the girls to participate in charity activities and help underprivileged people, in line with SGG’s vision to building a responsible generation of leaders.