For the first time in human history, a global online poetry contest was organized by WHD – World Humanitarian Drive. Titled “COVID TIMES POETRY, it began on March 27th and drew participants from all over the globe. It was open to people of all ages and all languages. It was a step towards inspiring humanity in it’s battle against coronavirus. Abdul Basit Syed, a British Indian social activist is the founder of this International NGO. He has a firm belief that words can inspire and cure the agony of staying indoors during the lockdown period. The contest brought out the creative talent and poetic skills in many people and they received more than 3000 poems from USA, UK, India, Albania, Russia and many other countries as well. The winners of the contest were announced and honoured on World Earth Day, the 22nd of April through Zoom Video Conferencing. The Chief Guest for the event was H.E. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, the Hon’ble 5th President of Trinidad and Tobago.
World Humanitarian Drive was founded basically to initiate the idea of charity. It aims to promote peace and harmony through the medium of education, sports, arts and media particularly among the youth who are the most vulnerable in society. It also strives to bring about unity of mankind regardless of race, religion or nationality. WHD uses positive strategies to inspire communities through street campaigns, seminars and events by using the expertise of professionals in the field of medicine, law, finance and education.
As the great Nelson Mandela said “Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity nor patronizingly but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”
