Abu Dhabi: Alleviating the sufferings of the children in Nepal is more delightful than buying branded bags and cosmetics, says a 13-year-old girl who donated her long-term savings to earthquake victims.
Firdous Mohammad Farooq, a ninth grader at school in Musaffah, opened her piggybank with Dh1,300 of savings after watching the sufferings of earthquake victims on TV.
“I went to a nearby supermarket and bought water bottles, milk cartons, biscuit packets, tinned chick peas, packet of cereals, tents with a capacity of three people each and blankets. Then on Friday I went to Nepal Embassy and donated the items,” she told Gulf News on Sunday.
She said she had been saving for one-and-half years pocket money given by parents with the idea of buying her favourite brands of bags and cosmetics.
“But I felt more satisfied with my donation,” said the student from Mumbai.
“Because I had very scary nights as I imagined the hardship those people were facing as they lost their loved ones, shelter, food, even their basic means of livelihood. People are sleeping on open grounds on chilly nights, kids crying for food, people needing first aid and no water even to drink…”
“When I am having a wholesome satisfying meal with such a comfortable life with my loved ones near me, I was sad and had the urge to help the victims in some way,” she said.
Dhananjay Jha, the Nepalese Ambassador to the UAE, was moved by the girl’s gesture. “It was inspiring. As I met her at the embassy after the office hours, I could not immediately access my letterhead to give her an appreciation letter. But I wrote a note in a white paper,” he told Gulf News.
He said he noticed that many children and women were prompting other family members and friends to help the needy. A doctor came with his two little sons, saying his sons were asking him what he was doing for earthquake victims. “The doctor said that’s why he came to the embassy with donation,” Jha said. The members of Tamil Ladies Association in the capital were also motivating their family members and friends to visit the embassy and make donations. “All this has been touching,” the ambassador said.
Firdous said she has been reading the Holy Quran since childhood and learned that extending a helping hand to people in distress is important aspect of the religious practice.
“She always says that what she learned from religious teachings is humanity comes the first,” said her mother Asma Mohammad Farooq.
Asma said she and her husband Mohammad Farooq have been giving her pocket money on weekends and special occasions. “When she said she wanted to donate the money for earthquake victims, we were also happy,” she said.
Firdous said small drops together can make a big ocean. “These small drops represent the small help we do to bring a change or make a difference in someone’s life whereas the ocean represents the power of all our drops. So I make an appeal to humans of all ages to give their little drops and together can make Nepal as it was before. This is what our religion and humanity teaches us to help those in need,” she said.
