Campaign launched to kit out workers for Dubai's beaches
A drive has been launched to provide Dubai’s labourers with appropriate swimwear so they can enjoy the beaches and stay out of trouble with cops.
The campaign ‘Drop Your Shorts For Good’ is championed by COEGA Sunwear, a Dubai-based manufacturer of swimwear and beach accessories and is supported by 7DAYS and Dubai 92.
Last week 7DAYS reported how workers had been warned that they needed more than their pants to go for a paddle after Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Mohammad Al Mazyoud, head of the Port Police Station, said labourers were causing a stir on Dubai’s beaches by donning their underwear to go for a dip.
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Kim Brasko from COEGA Sunwear hands out shorts to labourers (Photo by Amelia Johnson)
This week COEGA Sunwear handed out swimwear to 50 workers at labour camps in Al Quoz and is now encouraging residents to join in the campaign and donate swimwear at drop boxes in Dubai. The items will be distributed to workers.
Maurine Hall, owner of COEGA Sunwear, said: “This initiative is partly to show them that they are much appreciated and that they too are entitled to happiness just like anyone else.”
Dubai 92’s breakfast show co-host Catboy came up with the idea of starting a campaign to donate shorts while discussing the 7DAYS story on air. He said: “People that morning really got behind the idea. It’s not Live Aid. It’s not Comic Relief, just a great gesture to help someone a little less fortunate.”
Nguyen Van Cong, a 30-year-old Vietnamese worker, was among those to get a pair of shorts. He said swimming was his only pastime and the new shorts mean he can now enjoy it.
Police chief Al Mazyoud welcomed the initiative but added: “Although this is good we need construction firm owners to ensure labourers wear the right swimwear.”
abdu.baasit@7days.ae
DONATION POINTS
>> Bidi Bondi on Palm Jumeirah.
>> Paddle for the Planet event at the Kite Beach on Saturday.
>> Football Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road where The Energy Clinic has organised a charity bootcamp on Saturday.
Comments
by cliftonrebello
Thursday, May 31 2012, 3:55PM
“Kudos to all involved in this initiative. Some of these labourers have helped develop the various luxurious abodes that some of us now live in. This initiative, amongst others, must make them feel that someone cares. Well done to all.”
by alexobyrne
Thursday, May 31 2012, 3:43PM
“Great work by caring people to help those who do so much to make Dubai the great city it is and take very little reward for there efforts. Excellent campaign.”
by djoanes1
Thursday, May 31 2012, 3:28PM
“This is a nice gesture but I think it is a little misguided. These guys are not charity cases, they are gainfully employed. Their employer should be paying them enough so they can afford to buy shorts in the first place. We should be concentrating our efforts on pressuring the contractors to pay a decent wage. This idea is just a distraction from the real issues.”
by Tya
Thursday, May 31 2012, 2:40PM
“Swimming is one the cheapest luxuries these men can afford to enjoy in an expensive city like Dubai. After a hard day's work in the scorching sun while the rest of us "toil away" in air conditioned offices, taking a dip in the cool waters of the ocean is so very appealing. Instead of robbing it from them over factors they cant control (aka affording expensive swim wear), COEGA Sunwear has demonstrated initiative rather than sit back and complain like the vast majority of us. Kudos to you guys.”
by WheelieBinDxb
Thursday, May 31 2012, 12:53PM
“Very patronising, Jill. Very patronising.”
by Oolab
Thursday, May 31 2012, 11:53AM
“A generous gesture & one in the eye for those residents of Dubai who consider these guys lower than sewer rats.
Time will tell if those indominable residents who consider themselves far mightier than the rest find another excuse in an attempt to remove these fella's from our beaches.”
by Abdulraheem
Thursday, May 31 2012, 11:32AM
“Campaign for distribute the swim kit to labors...!! rubbish!!! at least we can adjust labors are just wearing dress inappropriate or dress off at the beach side while they are take in bath, but our street in the U.A.E how many ladies are wearing proper dress in daily life when they are get out from the home. Come on guys think about it and act for it....”
by Jill Higham
Thursday, May 31 2012, 11:10AM
“Great idea! Just hope they dont now strip off on the beach to put them on!!!!!”
by aislinghubert
Thursday, May 31 2012, 10:26AM
“Fantastic idea, schools should also get involved. Important to pass on good values to the next generation!”
by Sidrah
Thursday, May 31 2012, 9:25AM
“Good work, the contribution is always appreciated .”