Name: Priyanka Praseed
Occupation: Student
Age: 12 years
Nationality: Indian
Emirate: Dubai
In the UAE: 12 years
“Though I am not fasting, I have seen my friends observing Ramadan with devotion, and it has inspired me to correct my mistakes and do good deeds. Ramadan always reminds me that I should be taking care to speak and do good.
“One great thing about the month of Ramadan is charity. I have always been part of some organisation that indulges in catering iftar food packets to workers, and it is a great feeling to bring a smile to someone’s face. There are a lot of youth organisations that hand out these food packets at iftar time, and so I join them. I’ve always felt that people, including myself, waste a lot of food and every time I do so, I end up thinking of the poor. This small act of charity makes me feel like I’m paying back in some way. This year I will try my best to join the team again.
“The best memory I have about Ramadan is when I got in touch with a Dubai-based radio channel to try and raise awareness about road safety. During Ramadan, people who are fasting are usually seen rushing to their destinations to end their fast in the evening and might drive in a reckless manner in the process. I read a Gulf News report published in Ramadan last year, which stated that accidents were most likely to occur during iftar time as people tend to drive more aggressively.
“Thus, I wanted to help remind people on the road how important it is to reach home safely and keep their patience while driving during the last hours of fasting. The first time, the radio called me and asked me to speak about the issue and people called in to discuss the same. Additionally, I also sent them a voice recording, which was played occassionally as a reminder to radio listeners.
“I was moved to hear the responses of many listeners who appreciated the importance of the message and vowed to be careful and follow road rules.”
