Dubai: When 15-year-old Marwan Masri first heard news of Typhoon Nona, which left a trail of death and destruction in the Philippines, he was in his father’s clinic in Dubai.
“Most of my dad’s patients and staff are from the Philippines,” he said, “their reactions, the fear, anxiety and worry, reminded me of the situation back home in Syria.”
Following the experience, on December 18, Masri donated Dh75,000, money he had saved in five years to buy his dream Porsche, to help build a home for a Filipino family affected by Typhoon Nona.
Earlier this month, Typhoon Nona ravaged the eastern and central parts of the Philippines, killing 41 people and causing almost Dh240 million worth of damage.
In a display of empathy, unconventional for those his age, Marwan chose to donate his savings to the God Bless Pinamalayan Foundation, who are raising relief funds for those affected by the typhoon.
“I heard some of the clinic’s staff crying in the meeting room,” Masri, who is the eldest son of Dubai-based General Surgeon, Dr Gehad Masri, said. “I overheard how the typhoon affected almost 20,000 families in the town of Pinamalayan. Almost 10,000 families were rendered homeless after the natural disaster.”
The effects of Typhoon Nona reminded Masri of the devastating situation in Syria.
“It reminded me of the war in Syria, the children and families that were left homeless as a result,” he said, “I realised there are more things to life than luxuries and dream cars. That the money I had saved across five years could be spent for a better cause.”
Masri said he began collecting money after a deal he struck with his father when he was 10 years old.
“My father said he would give me Dh20,000 every year if I aced all my classes,” he said, “it was a great incentive for me to keep working hard in my studies. I’ve been an A-student since.”
The Dh75,000 donated to the fund-raising programme will be spent in a project that aims to rebuild the homes of hundreds of families devastated by the typhoon.
Masri said the act taught him to value money, and apply the tenets of compassion he has learnt through religion. Masri has still not met the family whom he helped rehouse, but he said he is planning on meeting them in the Philippines with his father.