Giving Their Share to Show They Care #2

Hello everyone

It has been a a long time since I did any blogging. Studies and other activities have kept me from penning (or should I say typing?) my thoughts. But here is another interesting read (hopefully) about an event I attended recently. 

Last Saturday, the 10th of May, I had the opportunity to attend the ASEAN Food Festival and Bazaar Charity held at the Malaysian Embassy in Rabat. It was to help the AMESIP Foundation in collecting money through the sale of food and other items by the participating ASEAN countries.

Indonesian crafts on sale.

Hand embroided wallets from Vietnam.                  

Preparing the Malaysian Salad.

Vietnamese students at the event.

This little French cutie stole the show.

What is ASEAN?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic organisation of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed in 1967. The members include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as founding countries along with Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam who joined later.

Source: Wikipedia

What is AMESIP?

The association was formed in 1996 under the name “Association Marocain d'aide aux Enfants en situation Précaire” (Moroccan Association of Aid For Children in Precarious Situations). The founders of AMESIP had initially found a large number of kids already engaging in various forms of substance abuse. The association has many shelters in and around the Rabat and Salé area with a center in Casablanca.

        Source: AMESIP Website

ASEAN Food Festival and Bazaar Charity 2014

Country stands for the ASEAN Food Festival and Charity Bazaar 2014

This year the event was hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Rabat. This was the 2nd edition of the ASEAN Food Festival and Bazaar Charity which started in 2013 and there are plans to make this into an annual event. 

Five countries participated in this event: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei. 

The Tombola, Indonesian and Brunei stands at the ASEAN Food Festival and Bazaar Charity 2014.       

Each country had their own cultural presentation ranging from cultural dances to traditional martial arts.

Thai martial arts

The Indonesian dance made the spectators join in with their lively moves. Ambassadors of Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam joined in with the performers.

Each country’s embassy contributed towards the charity aspect by having their traditional artifacts and cuisine for sale. There was a tombola with prizes donated from different embassies. The Food Festival and Bazaar Charity was also used as a means to promote ASEAN as one community giving back to the Moroccan society. The money that was collected was given to AMESIP who look after street kids and give them education.

Malaysian Salad

Indonesian Solo Sausage

Fish Cake from Thailand

The event was a huge success and was attended by the Moroccan and international community. It was an opportune moment for everyone to mix around and talk and meet the ambassadors of different countries. Ambassadors of Bangladesh and Pakistan were also present with their families to support the event.

Guests for the events having a ''picnic'' on the lawn of the Malaysian Embassy.

The event was a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities.

And to end this post, here is a bearded me with the ambassador of Vietnam to Morocco.

Until the next post beautiful people.

Have a good week.

Abdul

The First One #1

My First

So while this may not be my first try at a blog, it is however my first time on blogspot.com. I wrote a few posts here and there on other blogging sites but I either lost interest or forgot my password. I am still learning the ropes of how to blog and I am sure I will have a few embarrassing moments in order to learn how to properly blog although I do not believe there is a ''proper'' method.

Who am I?

Just a curious mind almost to the point of being a busybody sums it up I suppose. I like being involved in whatever is happening. I am a socializing hound. Every opportunity I get, I talk to whoever I get the chance to talk to and I am always full of questions. If you ask my friends, they would probably warn you to stay away from me because I talk like there is no tomorrow. I am interested in social issues and activities.

I am very much interested in travelling. I suppose that is one of the reason why I came all the way to Morocco from Fiji. The second would be the love of language and culture. I am a bookworm and an internet freak (meaning I am addicted to Facebook).

But... Who am I?

I am Abdul Mufeez Shaheed 22 years young. I am of Indian origins but was born and raised in Fiji and am a proud Fijian (hence the name FIndian- Fiji Indian). I currently study Medicine in Morocco; Rabat to be precise. I love to learn languages. I already speak Hindi, Urdu, English and French and I am learning the Moroccan Darija (the Moroccan Arabic Dialect) and recently started self-teaching myself German (in love with it- for now).

I joined a few associations in Rabat to keep myself busy and to learn and make new friends.

Why the Blog?

Why not? I have so much to say and while not everything I say may makes sense, somewhere, someone might enjoy my gibberish. Even if my posts give someone a minute of genuine laughter, I would consider my blog a success.

What Now?

Wait I suppose. The next thing which interests me will be posted here on this blog.

Have a good week.

Abdul