00:00We are here practicing for Jingles and Jingles is a group of friends who started in 2010.
00:29We are a group of around 10 friends, family and friends, started off helping people in
00:36need in Dubai itself.
00:38One of our friends basically had a friend who had a child who had cancer and was in
00:45Dubai hospital.
00:47We went to visit the child and when we went to the hospital, of course that child still
00:51had a lot of cover, insurance cover and had enough resources to complete the treatment
00:56of leukemia.
00:58But when we went to the Dubai hospital, we saw other children, two years, two and a half
01:02years with tubes in their stomachs and on their chest, walking around, still smiling,
01:08laughing, not knowing that they are diagnosed with leukemia, which is life-threatening.
01:13If a child has leukemia under the age of five, if they only complete the entire course of
01:17treatment, which costs them 150,000 Dirhams, they have almost 100% chances of survival.
01:25So when we heard that, that was great news for us, we thought let's get together and
01:29do something for these children.
01:31So their parents had meagre resources and they were not able to arrange for 150,000
01:37Dirhams, neither at one go, neither in parts.
01:41So what they told the doctors was, we cannot do it, so just let the children go back home
01:48and as and when they die, let them die.
01:51So that's not something that we could just listen and be quiet, because we ourselves
01:58are children.
01:59As Jingles, we sing songs, carols, at our friends' places and in companies also.
02:07And voluntarily, they contribute or donate whatever they want to for the cause.
02:12So we first draw up a cause, like this year we're helping three children.
02:16So all three are diagnosed with leukemia and have no funds for treatment.
02:21They are right here being treated.
02:23So this year we have got together to raise funds for all three of them.
02:27So we have around 60 members last time, now this time 75.
02:32Everyone has commitments, everyone is busy, everyone.
02:35They are cancelling birthday parties, parties, get-togethers, long drives, everything they're
02:40cancelling and coming here only for one reason, for these children, so that we give them a
02:45shot at life.
02:46So every Friday, Saturday, to cancel all your appointments, come here, practice.
02:50And then we book a bus, a 65-seater bus, and we schedule the entire route.
02:56If you go to JLT, we make sure we have houses there, we cover all those houses.
03:01And we do it, by the way, we do it in association with Red Crescent.
03:05We have a license from Red Crescent that allows us to conduct Jingles.
03:09So this year also, they have been supporting us, like 2016.
03:14And yeah, so that's the essence of Jingles, to get together for someone and helping to
03:21give a real shot at life for children.
03:25So we use Jingles during the festive season because that's the time of giving back and
03:31to make a difference in everyone's life.
03:33So we just use that season in order to reach out to our very close friends, families, for
03:38that matter, even corporates, you know, all our employers.
03:40You can't imagine how happily they've come forward.
03:45The moment they hear our cause, they just come forward and open their hearts and they
03:51contribute.
03:52To the extent we've been doing this from 2010, as Rajiv said, year on year, it's a miracle,
03:58you know, they come to us, let it be the corporates or our family friends, they ask around Christmas
04:04season, so Meera, this time, aren't you doing Jingles?
04:07What are the kids you're supporting this year?
04:08It is so overwhelming, so touching to see that.
04:11So it gives a kick that every two years we have to head back because we know that people
04:16are there to help.
04:17A lot of people associate Christmas with Christmas trees, gifts, you know, parties, you know,
04:23having fun, late night masses.
04:26But the true essence of Christmas is about giving back or helping someone, you know,
04:29and I think each of us should inculcate that in ourselves, you know.
04:35And what I want to say is, while Christmas, you know, the true essence of Christmas is
04:39about giving, each of us should live that message, you know, and how to live it is because
04:44you can do your part.
04:45It could be a very small part, you could invite us to your house, we can come there, sing
04:50and we can be a channel for you, you know, what you want to give back, or you could donate
04:55directly, you know, to these children, or for that matter, they can do anything that
04:59they want, right?
05:00I mean, either through Jingles or through, you know, any other association that they
05:04have, but of course, we would love people to be part of Jingles and, you know, help
05:08us through so that we can help, through Jingles, we can help out more kids than the five kids
05:11that you set out for.
05:34Make it a spirit of light, what fun it is to rock and sing, what fun it is to rock and sing!
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