By Syma Sayyah, Tehran

Last week we went to see one of the best events in Tehran, and the fact that all the proceeds benefitted Mahak, the charity for children with cancer in Tehran was a big extra attraction. The bazaar was organized by the fantastic, energetic and professional Mahak Youth Group and had a lot of buzz and fun about it.

When I see all these young people who spend their free time devotedly helping others and I ask them why, they say it is the hope, the hope that what they do, and their contributions big or small, will help towards the treatment of those children upstairs.  Mahak's strength comes from these volunteers and the Mahak youth group is a light in the heart of those like me who know it will be in safe hands.

The Mahak Youth Volunteers Group like their young at heart elders are the soul of Mahak and the devotion that all of these wonderful hard working, caring, loving volunteers exert when they are doing something for Mahak is amazing and makes one hope and pray that soon the Mahak way of deep love and affection for humanity and for children in need combined with modern professionalism will spread ever more wider.

Paul and I have been involved with Mahak for several years and as we go along we are ever more drawn into it.  Through rain, the rush hour, having fifty guests for dinner, problems at the office, and so on somehow we find the strength to get there and do that we have willingly and proudly accepted to do.    It is so much easier because it is for these darling angels that I come across when I am at Mahak, some smile, or one frown is enough to make me run up and down to do what I can and as often as I humanly can.  Someone who travels a lot told me

Mahak is Iran's leading NGO and one of the best places in the Middle East for treatment of children with cancer.  International merit awards have been awarded to the organization and its founder Mrs. Saideh Ghods.   The Mahak mode of operation and strength has been based on its volunteers and now that it is growing as an international organization it has a developed a few main goals.   First and foremost is that because the role of its devoted volunteers has always been the core of its success, the number of volunteers must in the near future reach some 70% of its total staff.

Its main aims are to be transparent, to have a human approach with genuine care and concern for all those in need of their service- children suffering from cancer and their families without any exception, with very strong role for volunteers in aspects.  These have been core of Mahak's success, and we all hope that Mahak's path with the role of volunteers in running, managing and decision making and its methods and sense of social duty, care and concern will become the blueprint for all NGOs in Iran.

About Mahak:

Web Site: www.mahak-charity.org
E.mail:info@mahak-charity.org

• MAHAK Hospital & Rehabilitation Complex, MAHAK St, Oushan, Lashgarak Road, Aqdasieh, Tehran, Iran. P.O Box: 19395-5445, To see the map click here
  Tel: (+9821) 22451414, (+9821) 22490544-7,
  Fax: (+9821) 22445454
  E-mail: info@mahak-charity.org

• Chizar Office:
  No 36, Neda Sq, Chizar,
  Tel: (+9821) 22213946, (+9821) 22213888,
  Fax: (+9821) 22201312

• Mellat Office:
  No 36, GF, Mellat Tower, in front of the Mellat Part, Vali-e-Asr Avenue.
  Tel: (+9821) 22025518, (+9821) 22037473, (+9821) 22037474

• Tehran Villa Hostel:
  No 79, Shahid Safavian St, Fourth St, Tehran Villa Junction, Satarkhan.
  Tel: (+9821) 66504136

Related Stories:

• Saideh Ghods: One Woman's Volunteerism Providing Hope to Thousands

• Photos: This is not the end of the world...The Mahak Children

• IDB Award for Saideh Ghods, the Mahak chief

• Mahak Way is the Way of love and Hope

• Mahak – A True success story and now a way of life

• The Color of Love: An Exhibition for a great cause in Tehran

... Payvand News - 02/26/09 ... --

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