Living and working abroad can be an incredible adventure, but it also comes with unique challenges, especially when you’re part of a dedicated team like the UK MOD Saudi Arabian Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP). This fantastic group, made up of personnel from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Civil Servants, and their families, forms a vibrant community across compounds in Riyadh, Al’ Majmah, Dhahran, Tabuk, and Taif.
Life in the desert, while exciting, often requires a bit of extra effort to create a comfortable and engaging environment for everyone. That’s why we’re thrilled to share the exciting news the MODSAP team recently received a generous £14,000 grant from the NAAFI Fund to create a fantastic community improvement project.
The grant has enabled the purchase of a wide array of welfare and entertainment equipment designed to bring people together and provide much-needed leisure opportunities.
What’s new on the compounds?
- Cool Comfort & Warm Gatherings: With air coolers for those scorching desert days and patio heaters for surprisingly chilly desert nights, everyone can enjoy outdoor spaces year-round.
- Feasts & Fun: Brand new BBQs and coffee machines mean more delicious cookouts and cosy chats are on the horizon.
- Playtime Paradise: Children now have a fantastic selection of toys, ensuring endless hours of fun and imagination.
- Adventure Awaits: For the more active members, new camping and sports equipment opens up opportunities for outdoor excursions and friendly competitions.
- Gaming Galore: And for those looking to unwind with some digital entertainment, a PlayStation 5 and VR headset are ready for some immersive gaming experiences!
This incredible investment provides the entire MODSAP community with the essential equipment needed to arrange regular get-togethers. It ensures that everyone has a welcoming place to go and a variety of activities to get involved in, fostering a stronger sense of community and boosting morale across all the compounds.
Director MODSAP, Air-Vice Marshal Jez Attridge, thanked NAAFI for the funding, stating “I am very grateful to NAAFI for this generous grant which will enhance the lives of the MODSAP community throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It’s sometimes difficult living a long way from loved ones, and it is important that the MODSAP community can make use of the new equipment”.
Here’s to many more fun-filled gatherings and memorable moments in the desert!
If you live in a remote area, away from loved ones and feel like the unit needs some welfare improvements to make serving personnel and their families feel more at home, get in touch @naafisocial.
