Dubai - The 28-year-old set out on a quest to be part of a movement that can make a difference in society.
Published: Thu 22 Nov 2018, 9:50 AM
Last updated: Thu 22 Nov 2018, 11:55 AM
An accountant by day and children's champion on weekends, Palestinian national Alaa Shatat is a proud Dubai resident who says the UAE has inspired her to imbibe the culture of giving back.
Alaa got into volunteering nearly five years ago when she started working with non-profit organisations, including Dubai Cares, supporting children and improving their access to quality primary education in the UAE and developing countries.
About Day for DubaiIn line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Day for Dubai was launched in December 2017 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.
The initiative encourages the community to dedicate a cumulative of 24 hours a year for volunteer work. Day for Dubai highlights 14 categories including: Elderly; children and youth; people of determination; education; mentoring; health; community support; sport and recreation; culture and arts; environment and wildlife; tolerance and hope; emergency preparedness; international volunteering; and others.
To help us enrich the volunteering scene in the emirate, please share your stories of suggestions by sending an email to info@dayfordubai.com or by visiting www.dayfordubai.com |
Inspired by various charitable initiatives around her in the UAE, the 28-year-old set out on a quest to be part of a movement that can make a difference in society. She found a passion for helping out underprivileged children and began participating in charity work that distributed school kits to child refugees in Jordan, those who were affected by the Syrian crisis.
Recalling her most memorable experience, Alaa said: "The day we saw the video of the children receiving their kits is a day that I'll never forget. Their reactions to receiving these gifts from people they had never met was priceless. It showed them that there are still people who care out there."
Children have always been close to her heart and nurturing them has been her priority because "they are the future", she said.
"Equipping kids with essential educational tools is key to building a positive environment for them - one that can help create a bright future ahead of them."
Wearing different hats as a volunteer, Alaa spends most of her weekends painting walls of schools for the underprivileged students, pushing desks and chairs into neat rows, arranging children's books in a library, organising marathons or similar activities for kids, and planting in gardens, among others.
Her support wasn't restricted to children in refugee camps. She also regularly works with National Charity Schools in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman to improve children's educational facilities, including enhancing their classrooms, schoolkits and learning environments.
As she moves from one passion project to another, Alaa has felt the fulfilment she was longing for, inspiring her to encourage others to volunteer.
"I began running workshops in my workplace to inspire my colleagues to start volunteering. At these workshops, I give them tips on where and how to give back and I also share with them the benefits of volunteering. I am happy that about five of my colleagues have started volunteering," she said.
"Everyone should try volunteering, even only for a few hours. I am sure they will love this feeling of working selflessly for others. There are a host of organisations and people who are always willing to give back. It's just about finding what you're passionate about and making a difference. The benefits will be life-changing."
Alaa's journey of supporting children has just begun as she dreams of setting up her own organisation for the underprivileged.
saman@khaleejtimes.com
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