NYU Abu Dhabi’s Room of Requirement is a well-known resource for all students to use when they’re in need of information or help with anything from printing assignments at 2 a.m. to deciphering admin’s emails. From this group, other niche groups like the female only “Girls RoR” have surfaced. Girls RoR is dedicated to providing space for female-identifying students on campus to come together and share tips and information about anything from workout tips, mental health and recommendations for study spots in Abu Dhabi. Moreover, Girls RoR has become the go-to place for buying and selling all sorts of items; it is NYUAD’s own Amazon.

According to Shahad Hamwi, Class of 2023, it wasn't until she and her friends set up the Swap Shop under Ecoherence, an environmental advocacy group on campus, in her freshman fall of 2019 that people started buying and selling on RoR. “Swap Shop was created under the idea of sustainability in mind and after Swap Shop was created, we suddenly started seeing people selling more things on campus, on RoR and people might have been inspired by Swap Shop, like hey…second-hand buying,'' Hamwi stated.

Most recently, there has been major support from the community, and everyone has started engaging in this phenomenon of people selling and giving away their things on the Girls RoR. Sometimes, it’s a graduating senior who is moving out. Other times, it’s a girl who is trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there is always someone selling items on Girls RoR. “I am really happy that this happened, ‘cause you really realize how much things you have in your closet that you don't even use and end up going to the landfill,” Hamwi says.

College students who come to NYUAD from all around the world find this a very helpful way to get rid of unnecessary items, especially when constantly cramming their entire lives in two suitcases. Besides, with a large student body on financial aid and little to no stable source of personal income, it is convenient for buyers to purchase second-hand items at lower prices and for sellers who are looking to make a bit of money for items they have no use for anymore.

People sell a wide range of items on Girls RoR; it is always exciting to see what is awaiting you in the myriad of 20 pictures in that one post. You can find a multitude of things being sold: clothes, skincare, decor, utensils and much more. Someone recently listed a MacBook case saying, “I realized that I ordered a case for MacBook Pro 13 inch instead of MacBook Air. Now I can’t do nothing with its size, although I’m in love with the color!”.

If we think about it, there is not much difference between Amazon and Girls RoR. The online-shopping giant is known for Amazon prime; in Girls RoR, some sellers provide same day delivery as well, which is pretty convenient. If you want to, you can even go pick up the products yourself. And, some sellers aren’t even charging for their items, they give them away for free. However, Girl RoR one-ups Amazon with the ability to go check out the products yourself and decide on whether you want to actually buy the item or not.

It is important to note that a group like this can also be useful for people who are looking to expand their hobbies and test out their entrepreneurial potential. A great example is the brand beloved by all [“DREAMS” by cece] (https://www.cecekim.com), where Cece Kim, Class of 2021 and now a research assistant at NYUAD, started off advertising her creations on the Facebook group and finding a community of support. When asked about her venture on the Girls RoR, she says: “I really loved it! The community was — and still is — so full of kind and supportive people just as excited about my craft as I was. It gave me a lot of confidence starting out,” said Kim in an interview for The Gazelle.

Some of Cece's jewelry creations.

Cece’s success has motivated other students to start sharing their creations as well. “I got the idea from Cece who shares her chains and jewelry on female RoR,” said Sondos Etamadi, Class of 2022, who promotes and sells stickers and prints on the Facebook group. She said, “It shocks me every time someone sends me a follow up message about the stickers. It genuinely brightens my day.”

Students are also very happy with the activity of the group. When asked what she thinks of this makeshift Amazon, Karina Miszouri, Class of 2025, said, “It is a really nice way to sell everything. It is really personal. It is really flexible.”

She also highlighted another important aspect: “I love buying things from there, then I get to meet new people and some people even offer to come to your place and give you your stuff”. She checks girl RoR every hour to see what other offers they have.

Taman Temirgaliyeva, Class of 2024, agrees with Miszouri. For her, it's like a nice, down the road second-hand store. “Throughout our university life, we buy a lot of stuff that might serve their purpose for a certain amount of time…we grow, and our bodies change, so female RoR allows our old clothing to get good use in someone else's kind hands,” she noted.

Other than community building and entrepreneurship, sustainability is a major issue that the exchange activity tackles. In a city that has limited thrifting options, this initiative is great for students who value living a more environmentally-conscious lifestyle. The fashion industry, alone, is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emission, so having this initiative in such a supportive community that helps to indirectly push for second-hand wear/use is of great importance for a globally aware community like ours. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go and spend the rest of the night scrolling through Girls RoR.