Page 165 - April Issue
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care more about what happens would be more than enough mama me-time
in their home country. Coming to keep her busy throughout
from Europe, these places the day. But no, she does not “In the UAE, more
always seemed so far away, want to stop there. Some of than anywhere
it did not really concern me. the activities she is involved else I have ever
Just like wars: when fighting in, and also organises, are
destroyed countries in Africa, it cooking for labourers, providing been, there are so
was not quite the same as when housekeepers with basic many ways people
it hit, for example, what was everyday use items, distributing can help, so many
formerly known as Yugoslavia. goodie bags to taxi drivers,
Then it was serious, because helping the environment, organisations to
it was so close to me! Well the supporting children in need… support.”
UAE gives us the opportunity
to open our eyes, and our A lot can be done for volunteers also takes great care
hearts, to the whole world. labourers in the UAE, as they into providing the labourers
And once we are aware of what usually live in very difficult with basic, but necessary, items,
goes on around the globe, who conditions. When Darine such as razors, soap, water, and
would not want to try and make explained to me how she filling bags with candy, chips,
it a better world? Who could helped, I was amazed and juice, snacks and biscuits. Do
ignore a classmate’s concern for wondered how she could find you remember the feeling of
his family after an earthquake, the time and energy to do getting a bag of surprises when
or a colleague’s fear of more all that. When cooking on a you were a child? Even if you did
struggles threatening his loved regular basis for them with not need the knick-knacks that
ones? I feel that in the UAE, the volunteers of her group were inside, do you remember
more than anywhere else I have known as “Charity’s Angels”, the excitement you felt? Even as
ever been, there are so many she actually goes with the adults, if you walk in a mall and
ways people can help, so many volunteers to buy the food someone hands you a bag filled
organisations to support. It is as themselves, cooking them with different items, are you not
if every expatriate coming here in her own home, preparing a bit curious to find out what is in
brings along with them a cause, every meal in tin foil with it? The gesture itself of giving to
and that is one of the riches of plastic cutlery and napkins. I someone in need weighs much
the Emirates. do not even find the time to more than anything that can be
prepare my own breakfast in the contained in that bag.
Let us go back to Darine, morning! Some of the regular
our anonymous benefactor. volunteers that participate every As a woman of the world
As I wrote earlier, she is a month are Rhiannon Downie, Darine’s generosity knows
woman – a woman in a man’s Camilla Hajek, and Alice no boundaries, and she can
world too, which makes it even Hartley, her good friends. Alice volunteer and fight the causes
more impressive – a mother, Hartley is not only a volunteer, of many people worldwide. She
whose first love and priority but also a regular photographer gathers blanket, clothes and
is her family, giving her heart of Charity’s Angel’s events. food for Pakistani refugees, for
and her soul to her work. That Darine and Charity’s Angel’s the displaced populations of
Palestine, provides workers from
the Philippines with goods, from mother, baby & child April 2011
clothes and shoes to jewellery
and board games. You might not
think a game is what a charity
should give, but think of the
lives of these people. They live
with worries and do not have the
financial resources to entertain
themselves. A game can give
people time to forget about
the hardships of life, time to
share and enjoy a moment with
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