American University of Sharjah
EN-13: Community Service

 HAND IN HAND: RENOVATING ORPHAN HOMES
This project involves AUS students volunteering their skills, talent and time to make a
difference in the lives of the less fortunate. This program is held in collaboration with
local humanitarian organizations.
 FEED THE NEEDY CAMPAIGN
This campaign is aimed at promoting productive relationships with the external
community. Through this campaign, students realize the value of helping the needy and
become concerned with societal needs. This campaign is carried out by the CS
Volunteers whose activities are specifically aimed at benefitting the needy under the
care of UAE charities.
 RAMADAN CHARITY IFTAR
The Ramadan Charity Iftar is held on campus every Ramadan that coincides with the
semester for groups such as the elderly, handicapped and orphans. This program
provides an opportunity for students to perform humanitarian work during the holy
month of Ramadan.
 AUS AWARENESS DAY
AUS Awareness Day is organized annually in collaboration with various private and
governmental organizations to raise awareness among students about health and
safety issues. Various exhibitions, presentations, one-on-one consultations and free
tests are offered during the day-long event.
 BLOOD DONATION
Blood donation campaigns are organized every semester in collaboration with the
University Health Center and the Sharjah Ministry of Health. This campaign helps the
lives of many people who are in need of blood transfusion.
 CHARITY FUNDRAISERS
Charity fundraisers support various charity organizations through a variety of
on-campus fundraisers such as a bake sale and annual charity week.
 CLEANCO APPRECIATION
Held prior to the end of the academic year, in collaboration with some university faculty
and staff members, the Cleanco Appreciation Party is organized in appreciation of the
university's cleaning staff for their efforts and contributions to the campus community.
The event involves fundraising, a dinner and gift distribution.
 TOY STORIES INITIATIVE
This initiative encourages student volunteers to explore their creativity by crafting
hand-stitched toys which are then presented to orphans and children with special
needs.
 AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
This initiative seeks to educate student volunteers with the basic understanding of the
American Sign Language that will enable them to interact and communicate with the
deaf and mute while they perform social work.
 COMMUNITY SERVICE FARM
This mini farm on campus is nurtured by student volunteers. Students irrigate and grow
plants utilizing sustainable methods that allow them to contribute to global
environmental initiatives.
 CHARITY USED BOOK SALE
This initiative is a combination of fundraising and sustainability. Students and
community members can dispose off their used books by donating them to the event
where they are sold for a donation and re-used. Proceeds are used to fund various AUS
charity initiatives.
 ALTHIQAH CLUB FOR HANDICAPPED
Active AUS’s volunteers teach students at Althiqah Club for Handicapped, both basics of
English language and basics of Computer. The classes take place on weekly basis and
each class last for one 45 mints. This program started since three years back, and till
now.
 CHARITY BAZAAR
The aim of this event, as the name suggests, was to raise funds for the various
charitable purposes that the community services division supports. Participants are
governmental, non-governmental entities including AUS staff and students.
 ADOPT AN ORPHAN FOR ONE DAY
This initiative was started in Spring 2017 to allow AUS volunteers to spend time with
orphans and play, eat and ultimately put a smile on their faces. Volunteers pair with the
orphans and each pays the orphan a meal and gift (a ticket fees may be included) and
to take care of him/her the entire trip
 ELDERLY HOME VISIT
Visit to the elderly home, enhances student volunteers feeling of responsibility towards
their community and emphasizes the value of social communication. This event is soul
enriching for the AUS students who got to spend time talking and even feeding the
elderly people present there, to comprehend the value of the elderly people.
 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING TRIP
The international volunteering trips proved success and benefit to AUS student
volunteers, the previous three International Volunteering Trips were; Sri Lanka Spring
2016, Nepal Spring 2017, Jordan Spring 2018. This initiative will enhance Community
Services international volunteering opportunities, enriches student’s experiences, and
highlights AUS’s image globally in the field of volunteerism.
 TRAININGS
To educated volunteers on the basics e.g. of first aid training and teach students how to
react under emergency situations when someone is in need of medical help. A
professional trained lecturer holds the workshop from UAE Red Crescent who
demonstrates and teaches the volunteers essential skills. Other workshops do not
result in direct or immediate benefit to the society, we believe in training and educating
our volunteers to be prepared for any situation where they might need to help someone
else and/or contribute to the community. Diversification of skills is very important for
volunteers in order to benefit the society in different ways.