Choices with a purpose
- What: Regular job titles, extraordinary results
- Where: In the Middle East
- Who: Habiba Al Marashi, Kayan Jaff, Zenny Hirji, Abdul Hafiz Elladki and Patricia Anderson
- Why: Because they chose to work for organisations that make the world a better place
- How: Turn the page to find out
Habiba Al Marashi,
Co-founder and chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG ), Dubai, and president of the UN Global Compact Local Network for the GCC countries
It didn't take a cataclysmic event or a personal tragedy to draw Al Marashi's attention and interest to environmental issues. At the EEG, she plays a key role in involving the community, private sector and government in initiatives ranging from the environment to women's empowerment programmes and development projects at national, regional and international levels.
Though her work deals with nature conservation, the subject has been a recurring theme in her life. She says she understood the environment in a holistic context during her growing years when life was lived in tune with nature. "I learnt to deal with nature judiciously and to respect all creatures," she says.
Thus she grew up imbued with the spirit of conservation. "I was raised to value resources, as were people of my generation. I saw my mother and father doing it and I, in turn, teach my four children," she says.
Thus the Emirati woman who began her career working with the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Dubai Development Board, Government of Dubai, teaches her children to avoid wastage. "They will never throw food away. They believe in giving and supporting the underprivileged," she says.
Her voice carries a timbre of pride - not only filial, but nationalistic as well. "It is my duty [towards my country] and my love for the environment that motivates me. It is an important issue for me and I will continue working. I never anticipated that the EEG [a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature], would take over my life!
"It is a 24-hour commitment where neither time nor place matter. So I wake up early to reach a school in Umm al Quwain to be part of a tree planting ceremony, and witness the enthusiasm of the students and teachers. My work is about inspiring; ‘sowing the seeds', so to speak. I may not see results overnight… I am only a small part of a large equation. I know my work involves sacrifices, but it also gives me immense satisfaction, and humbles me."
She speaks of the flagrant abuse in our society using the words "consumerism" and "self-centredness" - the maladies of modern life. "In the last 20 years, attitudes have changed. There is over-consumption and people tend not to care whether the next person has enough… We must change," says Al Marashi, who was instrumental in the EEG becoming the first environmental NGO in the world to receive an ISO 14001 certification.
Zenny Hirji,
Chairperson, Children’s Hope Foundation (CHF), Dubai
"I've lost count of the number of years I have been involved in charity... more than 20 years I think," says Hirji.
Her philanthropic career started in 1974 with coffee mornings to raise funds for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for women. And since she has represented the UN in Nairobi as the spokesperson for the Clean Water Programme, and worked on numerous charity committees in London including Breast Cancer Awareness, Make a Wish Foundation and Women Aid.
Hirji worked alongside Princess Diana and, a few years later, the Duchess of York Sarah Margaret Ferguson. Both were patrons and supporters of Women Aid.
"At the time, Princess Diana was raising awareness for landmines in Bosnia. And I couldn't help but think that if a member of royalty can help in awareness building and fundraising, I could as well," she says. The future crystallised and she knew what she was going to do for the rest of her life.
Hirji hasn't stopped. She's worked with the Aga Khan Foundation and was approached by the Children's Hope Foundation (CHF) London for assistance with children's projects.
When Hirji and her husband, Bahadar, moved to Dubai in 2000, she set up the Dubai chapter under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group. (She was later made a Trustee of the Children's Hope Foundation in London.)
"I remember asking him for permission to start the Dubai Chapter. That was ten years ago," she says.
The charity has raised funds for over 60 international and local charities including the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, The Centre for Special Needs, Dubai Autism Centre, Al Noor, Manzil, Cancer Children Dubai and Radiant School in Sharjah.
"I couldn't have done this without support. My 14 committee members are my backbone and I have a fantastic co-chairperson, Deena Motiwalla," she says.
Her personal philosophy resonates to the phrase: kind gestures have long echoes. "I feel fulfilled. It is a fantastic field. I am here for a purpose. I am doing something with my life and enjoying sharing myself. My family has been very supportive," says Hirji who has two sons and four grandchildren.
Patricia Anderson,
Communications manager, Gulf for Good, Dubai
Patricia's training in charitable ventures began when she was young, selling raffle tickets and manning cake stalls at charity events. Her mother, Sally Anderson, would ask Patricia and her brothers to help whenever the opportunity arose.
Their mother did pro bono work on several projects, as did their father Peter. "My father was a partner in an accounting firm and in his spare time, he would do the accounts for the Red Cross, local parish and the scouts," says Patricia.
Their mother, now 82, continues to support the King George's Fund for Sailors (KGFS), a UK-based charity that provides help, comfort and relief for seafarers and their dependents.
Inspired by her parents' munificence, Patricia too understood the value of giving back to society. At university in the South of Wales, she found herself working for the Rag society, a student-run charitable fundraising organisation.
"That year we organised week-long activities for several campaigns including one to save the rhinoceros for which we raised £15,000," she says.
After university, she worked as a chartered surveyor in London, Hong Kong, Doha and Bangkok, but always found the time to do volunteer work, whether it was refurbishing schools or working for underprivileged children. "That feeling of duty stayed with me," she says.
Since relocating to Dubai about five years ago, Patricia has volunteered for various charities including Riding for the Disabled (RDAD) and Dubai Cares, specifically on the Million Book Challenge.
Last year, she helped plan the games for the Night Market that was organised by Jumeirah English Speaking School.
Patricia engenders the same spirit of giving with her children Robert, nine, and Isobel, seven, in the manner that she and her brothers did when they were younger. "Robert was helping out with the Treasure Hunt and Isobel with hoopla [at the Night Market]."
Patricia describes her current job at Gulf For Good, a Dubai-based charity that she's worked with since 2008 to raise money for various projects through adventure challenges, as "perfect".
"The advertisement mentioned that the timings were flexible and was ideal for mothers with young children. Plus, I was a very keen outdoor enthusiast. My experience in charitable endeavours meant that I could use my skills and I would have time with my kids. It has been amazing," she says.
At a recent house party, her own kids decided to raise money by setting up a soft drinks counter. "It was their idea! They charged our guests Dh1 for each drink and then they split the proceeds between Dubai Cares and Gulf for Good. I am extremely proud of them."
Kayan Jaff,
Head of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the Resident UN Coordinator for the UAE and Qatar
Do all boys want to grow up to be like their fathers? A few do, like Kayan. Still, it wasn't in the manner of a boy saying I want to be a pilot like daddy. For Kayan it was different. He grew up witnessing his father's work, relocating every time his father was posted in a different country - Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon and Kenya among others.
His father, Akram Jaff, worked for the FAO, a UN body that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and help countries modernise and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Early on, Kayan learnt that not everyone is lucky enough to have a meal on their plates. He watched his father, a former minister of agriculture, devise agricultural policies, work on strategies for rural development and discuss ways to resolve food and agricultural issues.
Unsurprisingly, his father's work influenced Kayan's choice of education. "I took up agricultural economics at university," he says.
After this he joined the private sector. "But something didn't quite feel right," says Kayan.
When his first child Tara was born, he decided to join the cause that his father worked passionately and tirelessly for - eradicating hunger.
"I felt the need to work in same field as my father. I was 32 years old when I applied for a job in the FAO," he says, adding that he went through the customary rigours of selection.
His father smiled when he learnt of Kayan's decision. "He was thrilled. He said he always knew that I was too much like him in my thinking, and that sooner to later I would decide to follow his footsteps," he says. With renewed vigour, Kayan devoted himself to his new role with the FAO. It has been 17 years, and he has been working passionately, living in countries like Sudan, Egypt and Italy. "It has been a rewarding experience, helping policy makers and advising the federal and local governments on issues pertaining to sustainable development, environment, agriculture, food safety and security. I try to bring to attention lives of those who are less fortunate."
His father is 80, and continues to advise Kayan. "My father's achievements inspire me. He is still active in the non-profit sector. For me, gratification is being part of the process that will help feed the hungry. As my father says, we must always be open to help people."
Abdul Hafiz Elladki,
Right To Play, regional director, MENA, based in Lebanon
You could turn Elladki's story into a weighty philosophical argument. It involves two paths leading to one destination.
The paths he speaks of are to do with healthcare. When he started out, he was a hospital administrator working for a general hospital run by the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association of Beirut that provides medical care, education and social services. (The hospital offered partially subsidised services.)
This was his first path: providing healthcare for the underprivileged.
The second path was his move to a private hospital where he soon realised that he wasn't able to help those who couldn't afford healthcare.
"It was a small community where people knew each other. Patients known to me from the earlier general hospital would ask me for support at the time of payment, hoping I would be able to reduce their medical bills. I couldn't. I was helpless;a private hospital cannot run without money," says Elladki.
This prompted him to reassess his decision. "I missed that humanitarian feeling of helping people in need and seeing the smiles on their faces. It wasn't the same satisfaction [at the private hospital]."
This realisation helped him find his metier in charity work.
"I never looked back. I've been working with non-profit organisations since 1982. I have worked with several NGOs, including the Netherlands Red Cross and the YMCA [Young Men's Christian Association]," he says, adding, "there is so much satisfaction - morally and psychologically working for the greater good." In 2006, he spotted an advertisement for the organisation Right To Play, a non-profit body that improves the lives of children in disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.
His experience in project design, implementation and management in the fields of health, education, and development secured him the job. "During a visit to one of the schools in Lebanon I saw the 60-year-old principal playing with children. Curious, I approached her and she replied, ‘For 40 years of teaching I finally found a programme that brings out the child in me. I watched the children playing and I couldn't help myself.' I was touched," says Elladki.
Do you know of an individual, a group of people, a company or an organisation that is striving to make this world a better place? Every responsible, selfless act, however small or big, makes a difference. Write to Friday and tell us who these people are and what they do. We will bring you their stories in our weekly series, Making A Difference. You can email us at friday@gulfnews.com or contact the pages editor at araj@gulfnews.com
