Merton teenager launches community network helping neighbours during pandemic
A nineteen-year-old teenager has built up a community network of “neighbours helping neighbours” during the pandemic.
Zakaria Dada of The Ridgway, Wimbledon, launched Merton Mutual Aid while he was studying for his A levels during the first lockdown.
He built up over 1000 volunteers within a couple of days and was admin for over 60 WhatsApp groups.
Through the different WhatsApp groups he set up a network of over 3000 volunteers in the Merton borough, helping vulnerable neighbours during the Covid-19 crisis.
He was able to keep track of requests, answer questions, and post messages, assisting hundreds of people on a weekly basis.
Zakaria also raised money through the funds and grants team, and ran a procurements team which worked with large companies, for example Nestle and Lush, who donated thousands of products to South West London hospitals and foodbanks. He organised hundreds of collections of food and toiletry parcels every week to give to the NHS hospitals and Wimbledon Foodbank.
Zakaria received a #PointsofLight award from the Prime Minister, at the end of 2020, thanking him for his work during lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a letter to Zakaria:” I wanted to write to you personally to thank you for your service to others, bringing together thousands of volunteers to uplift the community of Merton.”
Since the first lockdown Zakaria has branched out into other areas, and started the London Furniture Collective (now Dons Furniture Group).
The Collective receives referrals from councils, MPs, councillors and local organisations for families in need of furniture and other vital household items. These families are usually based in temporary accommodation or recently moved into permanent accommodation.
Zakaria originally supported Dons with laptops for their Keep Kids Connected Appeal, incredibly supplying 57 laptops personally after achieving a grant.
He is currently supporting Merton Health and Merton GP Federation in supplying volunteers such as marshals and administrators for vaccine support in the Merton Borough.
Zakaria is now studying law at UCL (University College London), and living at home so he can continue to support @MertonMutualAid and his other charities, but not to the extent he was.
He is currently running 23 WhatsApp groups, and also working part time, an inspiration to the Merton community he has helped so much during the pandemic.
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