Wednesday 18 / September / 2024
Muscat: Dutch Night 2016 has raised OMR10,000 worth of revenue from both, sponsors and ticket sales, of the annual event.
The amount was announced by the organising committee during Dutch Night, which was held at the Ras Al Hamra Recreational Club last Friday.
Wladi Rabiej, Head of the Dutch Night Committee, said that he was “very happy with this result.”
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‘Willing to help’
“At the moment, things are not easy for companies due to the low oil prices, but they have been willing to help us in various ways, either financially or in kind, which enabled us to limit our costs and rustle up a respectable amount for charity. We are very proud of this,” he said. He thanked the Dutch Night’s loyal sponsors, without whom the event would not have been possible.
The money will be used to fund the construction of greenhouses at Al Wafa Centre for Disabled in Bidbid, which will enable some thirty disabled people to make a living from horticulture, according to May Al Bayat, Marketing Director at Dar Al Ataa.
“Al Wafa Centre is a project very dear to us. Recently, we have prepared the playground area and have enrolled teachers in the Montessori programme. Now, we are working on this amazing project with the Dutch community, providing them with greenhouses. Thank you very much and we are looking forward for this project to see the light.”
In a packed Sohar Garden, members of the Dutch community and their friends enjoyed good food, beverages and music.
Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, praised the Dutch Night charity efforts and reminded the guests that there are also people who do not have this luxury.
Difficult lives
Commenting on the theme of the night ‘Frozen, the coolest place to be,’ Joziasse said it is “not only cool to be in a place where people have fun and enjoy good company and food,” but it is also “cool that people at this party do not only party, but also realise that there are people in this world whose lives might not always be a party. I think that’s really cool,” she said.
Joziasse said she hopes that this development, where greenhouses support people in making a living, will continue and expand in Oman. She told guests about the year 1900, when the Dutch also had to deal with a harsh climate and greenhouses enabled them to control the climate.
“Wouldn’t it be great if in this country also, greenhouses could be used for food security purposes for the well-being of the communities?” she said.
Platinum sponsors of Dutch Night 2016 were OHI, CB&I, KLM and OUA.
Gold sponsors were Carillion Alawi, Wipro, TruckOman Oil & Gas Services, NAPCO, Port of Sohar and Oman LNG.
Dutch Night is organised once a year by the Dutch community in Oman to celebrate the King’s birthday.
