Despite the internet trolls in the comment sections, humanity at its core is helpful and hopeful. Given the chance, most of us would prefer to be good over being evil, and will try to lend a hand rather than be mean. Yet, the large majority of the population sticks to small acts of kindness.

We spoke to Mariam AlJarallah who founded Oneness Organization so she could harness the collective energy and generosity of the community for a much bigger impact. 

How do you introduce yourself to people?

My name is Mariam AlJarallah, founder of Oneness Organization. Just like everyone else, I’ve always had a dream that I wanted to work on and accomplish. Through selfless giving, I’ve found myself the most and the dream that I once had, grew bigger; much bigger! Sometimes an inner voice says, “Your dream is too big”, “it’s unrealistic”, “how can this be possible?”, but then a more powerful voice in me uses this as a motivation in working harder and believing in a bigger purpose in life. Mother Teresa once said: “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving,” and this is how I live my life. This saying keeps reminding me that it’s not about ‘how much’, it’s about that love put into giving. It’s about intentions; once your intentions are set, everything else falls into place. So, who’s Mariam? She’s just a soul with a purpose in life.

Could you please tell us how the idea of starting Oneness Organization came about?

Ever since I was a child, I got myself involved in many volunteering activities and [noticed] how it truly affected my life positively, how it made me discover myself more and how it brought out the best version of me. As I grew up, I started doing my own activities and would have my family and friends join me. Surprisingly, more people showed interest and wanted to see how they could join. 

What is your mission as an organization?

I never wanted to market [charity] activities, as this is not done for marketing purposes. Going back to intentions, I’ve asked myself, “What’s your true intention?”; since our mission is to “aspire and inspire to practice selfless acts of giving with the utmost love”, then let’s INSPIRE THE WORLD TOGETHER. That’s when Oneness Organization was officially founded in June 2018. [That was when] we started officially announcing our activities to the public and opening it to any volunteer who would like to become a part of our mission. 

What does “Oneness” mean and why did you choose this name for your organization?

In English, “Oneness” is defined as the state of being unified. Oneness comes from the word ‘one’; we are all one. We all come from one soul. In Arabic, “Oneness” (ونّس) means fun. So, I wanted to mix between creating a memorable experience through the feeling of oneness and enjoying every part of the journey. 

You have hosted several events like plant-based cooking classes and markets to a school building trip in Zanzibar. Why did you decide to have a wide range of activities?

That’s true, we do have a wide range of activities and every activity or event has its purpose. Since our vision is to live in a world of selfless giving, filled with love, then let’s do this in every way we possibly can. Giving doesn’t necessarily mean by money solely. It can be by giving back with a smile, giving back to yourself (your health, physique, mental state, spirit, or soul), giving back to the community (in Kuwait and outside), and also giving back to the environment. 

Through Oneness, we work on creating unique experiences, each month with a different purpose that serves the vision of selfless giving. It’s important to experience the sense of giving in every shape or form, and see how an individual feels while enjoying this experience.

To me, this has only brought more love, happiness and joy into my life and I hope to do the same for the world around me.

What has the response been so far? Do people respond better to some campaigns than others? 

Honestly, the response has been phenomenal. I am extremely happy and truly grateful for the response of people and because of each individual, we’re able to grow day by day and turn that ‘Oneness’ dream into reality. 

Of course, people respond to campaigns and activities differently depending on what connects more to them and what’s closer to their hearts. We try our best to cater to what each volunteer would like to take part of and what the world truly needs. 

What has been the most challenging thing on this journey? What has been the most surprising thing?

As they say, what’s life without challenges? I am grateful for all the challenges and hardships because they have gotten us to where we are today.

I’d like to share a memorable moment [which] was one of the most challenging yet most surprising. I remember on our first voluntary trip to Zanzibar, I had a group of 15 volunteers working outside in a construction field [while the] temperature was over 40 degrees with no AC and no fan. The place we were staying at was powered by batteries, meaning that the water and electricity can go off at any time. Once we got back to our accommodation to freshen up, the power turned off, so we had no water or electricity for a while. Living in such situations and actually going through other people’s day-to-day challenges, made us appreciate everything we have. The way every volunteer responded to this situation was just beautiful. Everyone was calm, understanding and most importantly, grateful. 

The challenges we’ve went and going through are countless, but we try to always remind ourselves “what’s the intention?” and with that intention work it through.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own non-profit or charity work?

Believe in yourself, your mission and the good in people. Believe that if your intentions are set in the ‘right’ place, everything else will magically fall into place. It’s a challenging journey, but a beautiful one.

What advice would you give people to become more involved in work that benefits their community and the world in general?

I would highly recommend for every individual to get themselves involved in any volunteer work that resonates with them. Volunteering has helped me discover myself and has always brought out the best version of me. If we live in a world where everyone is living the best version of themselves, we will become ONE. 

Follow Oneness Org on Instagram @Oneness_Org to find out how you can contribute or join their activities.