Expat takes her volunteering journey global

Dubai - Nada and Nadine went all the way from Dubai to spend their time volunteering in Greece with a Norwegian NGO

Dubai resident Nada Darraj, 25, will forever cherish her trip to the Greek isles in the summer of 2017. It was her first volunteering trip to the isles where she and her sister Nadine, 29, were spending three weeks to help hundreds of refugees staying in makeshift shelters.
"I remember waking up one morning to take a walk by this beautiful beach when I came across a little boy. To this day, his words ring in my ears like it was yesterday. He asked me, 'Miss, why are you here?' to which I answered, 'I'm here to help dear'. 'Why?' he asked, with a confused look on his face.
'Because I want you to know that there are still people out there that care,' Nada replied.
The little boy, malnourished and frail, instantly broke down in tears upon hearing her response and hugged her.
The Greek isles, known for their wonder and mysticism had now become makeshift homes for thousands of misplaced people from war-torn countries.
Nada and Nadine went all the way from Dubai to spend their time volunteering in Greece with the Norwegian NGO, 'A Drop in The Ocean'. By partnering with the Greek government and other NGOs including UNHCR, Save the Children and the Red Cross, A Drop in the Ocean helped provide logistical support to the refugees temporarily living in Greece.
Talking about her love for volunteering, Nada said she always loved helping people and that ranged from offering to be a baby sitter for free to packing Ramadan food boxes for labourers near her place. But it was only last year that she stepped up her efforts and searched online in order to help other people around the world who are in dire need of assistance.
"Flying out from Dubai, my sister and I weren't sure of what to expect. We had participated in some volunteer work in the UAE during Ramadan for food distribution to the local labour accommodations, but this was at a scale neither of us had anticipated. We were assigned the role of interpreters as we were the only Arabic speakers in the organisation. This put us in the frontline whenever Arabic speaking refugees had doctor's appointments and interviews with civil workers,"
Calling it a life-changing experience, Nada said: "I used my expertise in communication to positively impact the lives of many. We tend to forget that refugees who have left their world behind to find another due to unforeseen circumstances are humans as well. They remain scared, unsure and confused, and all they need is a reassurance that everything will be alright."
Talking about her role at the makeshift shelters, Nada said: "I didn't limit myself to just being a translator but also would spend my time listening to the stories of the misplaced people; I helped with distribution of meals and even played games with the children at the camps. While the whole experience only lasted for a few weeks, it was more than enough to leave a lasting imprint on my life and get me hooked. The experience taught me empathy, humility, and the value of life.
Nada, who now runs a restaurant in Dubai, says she is looking at the next best opportunity to go back to the Greek isles to resume volunteering work.
"The experience has pushed me to volunteer further and made me truly believe that community service programmes should be made mandatory in all schools and universities, not just in the UAE but around the world. I hope to inspire others to leverage their skills, knowledge, and expertise to help others. One day of volunteering can make a huge difference in someone's life."
Lauding the Day for Dubai initiative, Nada said: "I am proud to live in a city like Dubai that is known for being one of the happiest and most tolerant cities in the world, and one that is led by individuals who are committed to encourage residents to give back. The Day for Dubai initiative is an example of the emirate's ongoing commitment towards volunteering."
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai