Dubai: While many families love to spend their spare time bonding at home, in malls, at parks or beaches, Yousuf Malala Ahmad Al Hammadi, his children, and grandchildren choose to help people voluntarily.
Three generations of the Al Hammadi family have been doing organised volunteer work in Dubai for the past two years, hoping to make a difference in other people’s lives.
When Yousuf isn’t standing in the middle of the road for hours guiding and ensuring cyclists’ safety during Tour Dubai, he’s out somewhere welcoming and providing information to guests at a government function or exhibition.
At times, he and his family would represent a typical Emirati family and act as a guide to tourists when needed.
“I got encouraged to become a volunteer by my daughters so I started doing it two years ago,” Yousuf, 65, a retired Emirati policeman, told Gulf News.
“More and more members of my family got encouraged to do volunteer work as time passed. We encouraged each other to do it and in doing so, spent quality time together while doing good work to others,” he added.
Currently, three of Yousuf’s 17 children — Fatma, Mariam, Shaikha — are volunteers, along with his six grandchildren, Ebrahim, Mohammad, Fatma, Shamma, Maitha, and Maria, the youngest granddaughter at 13.
“This family sets an excellent role model that volunteering is not governed by age or ability or education or anything. Volunteering is a social spirit that grows from parents to their kids,” Hana Bakkar, Director of Social Programmes Department at Community Development Authority (CDA), told Gulf News.
Volunteering as a community activity is deeply embedded in the Emirati culture and traditions. But it only became institutionalised as part of CDA’s mandate in 2009 and formally organised in 2012.
“The idea of volunteering came from our religion, Islam, plus all other religions have this kind of volunteering work. It can be done in various ways even by just visiting a patient in the hospital, giving him a cup of water if the nurse is busy. This is what really gives me satisfaction,” Yousuf said.
Yousuf has dedicated his time doing volunteer work since his retirement. One of his daughters, Fatma, 40, a housewife, devotes around 10 days a month to help out be in it doing crafts for others, helping organise the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Downtown Dubai, or ensuring a smooth Tour Dubai with her dad.
Fatma said that although it could be challenging sometimes, serving others without getting anything in return is actually rewarding.
“I used to be a shy individual and now I have transformed into an outgoing person. Volunteering has helped me meet new people, develop new skills, get to see new places and know what’s happening in the country,” Fatma said.
And the best part about volunteering, Yousuf said, is it doesn’t require much – just time and a willing heart.
“Even if the work involves serving people who speak other languages that I don’t understand, it’s not a matter for me. I will still do it. Even if I talk to them using sign language, I will. I will take any job no matter how difficult it is.”
