The kingdom’s branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance is to mobilize around 5000 people for programs initiated by the Makkah branch, according to the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday. The branch has activated 247 opportunities on its volunteering platform as the Hajj season approaches. These include making available over 235,000 water bottles at 3,850 mosques, supplying umbrellas to the pilgrims to shield them from the scorching sun, distribution of booklets as well as feeding of the pilgrims.
The move is in line with the ministry’s efforts to encourage communities embrace volunteering as a way of enhancing generosity.
The volunteers mainly help Hajj pilgrims in five different areas, including providing training through videos and presentations, according to the official. Along with this, volunteers also provide guidance in Mina, especially through translation, to pilgrims who come from around the world, and guide them to their tents, hospitals and assist them with wheelchairs. Additionally, they offer Tawaf-e-Ziyara to pilgrims who fall ill during the pilgrimage. Each sick pilgrim is accompanied by two volunteers who escort them from the hospital and return them after completing the Tawaf.