The Good Samaritans Contest

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are the objectives of this contest?

This contest has the following objectives:

(i) to serve/help those in need
We recognize that our communities are made up of many disadvantaged individuals, families, and groups. We also recognize that existing resources are not always sufficient in meeting the needs of those that are disadvantaged, and that there is a necessity for those of us who are in positions of privilege to express our care and concern for the disadvantaged among us wherever and to whatever extent possible.

(ii) to increase awareness of the wide range of personal challenges, systemic barriers, and special needs that diverse and marginalized individuals, families, and groups face on a daily basis
We recognize that it is very easy to become preoccupied with the personal, family, and work committments of our own everyday lives to the extent that we can sometimes become completely unaware of, and detached from, the experiences of the disadvantaged individuals, families, and groups that exist among us. Today, young people in particular are constantly faced with pressures and distractions that make it easy for them to become out of touch with issues and experiences related to social justice.

(iii) to provide young people with the opportunity to exercise creativity/flexibility and develop important practical skills as they engage in the process of facilitating positive social change
We recognize the existence of a pervasive myth that suggests that, for one reason or another, young people tend to be incapable of bearing important responsibilities like carrying out positive social change. Contrary to this myth, we believe that young people often naturally possess the necessary creativity, energy and passion, and idealism, that when combined with practical skills, puts young people in a position of being able to offer a lot to our communities.

(iv) to bring to mind the essence of charity, and subsequently to promote engagement in a wide range of charitable activities
We recognize that many of us tend to confine our understanding of what constitutes charitable activity to endeavors such as feeding individuals who are hungry and sheltering individuals who are homeless. While these are certainly great acts of charity, we seek to emphasize that any action, regardless of its size and scope, that seeks to remove a difficulty or burden from a person, and/or uplift the human spirit, can be considered a charitable action, such that even a smile can be considered a charitable act. Therefore, everyone is capable of engaging in charitable work.

(v) to promote excellence in giving
We recognize that competition among organizations and businesses can result in better products and services for clients. Similarly, we expect that competition among teams of volunteers will result in excellence in giving and better outcomes for individuals, families, and groups in need.

2. What is the significance of the title of this contest?

The term "Good Samaritan" has its origins in a story that is believed to be told by the prophet Jesus (May God's peace and blessings be upon him) in which a man comes to the aide of a wounded stranger, expecting no recognition or reward of any kind in return. Today, however, the term simply refers to any person that, for unselfish reasons, provides help to another person in distress. By adopting the term "Good Samaritan" for this contest, we seek to highlight the important concept of altruism as suggested in the biblical story told by Jesus (May God's peace and blessings be upon him), and subsequently, to foster practical, open and positive interfaith relations based on shared teachings and values. Please note that the term "Good Samaritan" is not being used in relation to this contest with the intent to signify political issues of any kind whatsoever.

3. Will high school students be able to claim time spent participating in this contest as credit towards their school requirement to complete a certain number of hours of volunteer work or community service?

High school students will be able to claim time spent in the preparation, planning, and execution of charitable work in relation to this contest as credit towards their school requirement to complete a certain number of hours of volunteer work or community service. Upon individual requests from high school students who have participated in this contest, we will provide a supporting letter and/or facilitate the completion of any forms as necessary to confirm individuals' participation.

4. What sort of uniform will contest participants be required to wear as they carry out their respective charitable activity?

The uniform will consist of a plain small, medium, or large size t-shirt bearing the Awliya Community Services' logo and possibly mention of the Good Samaritans Contest 2010. All participants will be allowed to keep the t-shirt given to them. Where sufficient prior notice is given, teams may be offered the option of paying to have their team name printed on their respective t-shirts. All participants are expected to dress modestly and appropriately given the activity in which they plan to engage.

5. How is Awliya Community Services funding this contest (e.g. prize money, t-shirts)?

Apart from the third place cash prize which is sponsored by iFreedom Plus, we are funding this contest through private donations, which have been earmarked for the purpose of engaging young people in opportunities to create positive social change. If you wish to donate for the purpose of increasing prize money or to fund any other aspect of this contest, please click here to contact us.

6. Will Awliya Community Services pay for contest-related expenses that are incurred by teams (e.g. costs of renting facilities, marketing)?

We will only assist eligible teams to pay for contest-related expenses up to a maximum of $200 in total per eligible team. In order to be considered eligible for this assistance, upon request, applicants must adequately show that:

(i) they are unable to pay for the expense of carrying out their charitable activity on their own;
(ii) all reasonable attempts to access funding from other sources have been made with little or no success,
and
(iii) the expenses for which funding assistance is being sought are genuinely unavoidable in order to achieve the basic aims and purposes of the proposed charitable activity.

We will provide a maximum of $200 in total to each eligible team only upon the submission of all invoices or receipts and other appropriate supporting documentation. Teams that foresee a need to apply for funding assistance through us should indicate this need in their respective contest application.

7. Does Awliya Community Services require contest participants planning to engage in an activity involving certain vulnerable populations (e.g. children, seniors, individuals with illness) to undergo any screening processes (e.g. interviews, criminal reference checks, medical clearances, confidentiality agreements)?

As we will not assume any liability or accept any responsibility for the actions of any individual or team participating in this contest, we also do not require contest participants planning to engage in an activity involving vulnerable populations to undergo any screening processes.

However, all participants wishing to engage in an activity involving certain vulnerable populations are strongly encouraged to seek out and form partnerships with existing charitable organizations or religious institutions that are able and willing to assume some level of responsibility on behalf of participants, without necessarily requiring participants to undergo any lengthy screening processes.

Please note that any participants seeking to engage in any type of activity with vulnerable populations found in institutional settings (e.g. hospitals, long-term care facilities), may ultimately be prevented access to such populations without first undergoing the prescribed volunteer screening processes of these respective institutions, or in some cases, being accepted as a volunteer with another organization that may not have the same screening requirements as the institution in which the desired vulnerable population is found, yet is still able and willing to assume some level of responsibility for participants in the event that any problems or issues arise as the charitable activity takes place or after its completion.

While not assuming or accepting any liabilties or responsibilities at all, we will, wherever necessary and/or possible, act as an advocate for participants to gain access to the target populations they seek to benefit.

Disclaimer: As with all other terms and conditions pertaining to the Good Samaritans Contest, any terms and conditions stated above may be subject to change in whole or in part at any time without prior notice.