From us to you: A true love for life

A few days ago, I heard an interesting statistic on the radio — 9.5 out of 10 people in the UAE have internet access. Immediately, the first thought to cross my mind was, "what about the remaining five per cent?" Where are they in this world that's progressing at a rapid pace into a global village?

A charity tent set up by the Red Crescent to feed the needy during Ramadan, I soon discovered. These people have much more on their minds than checking their e-mail or their latest wall posts on Facebook. What occupies their minds is simply how they're going to get through the next day.

At the tent, I met a young gentleman, named Faisal, a security guard for one of the nearby buildings. He stood in front of me with his ragged clothes and frayed shoes. As his dark pupils glared at me through his broken glasses, I could tell he was eager to share his story.

His hands were shaking as he held his tray of food: A plate of rice, a glass of milk and an orange – probably all he would have for the day.

"What gives you the willpower to go through fasting every day," I asked him. "In order to have the power you need to wake the next morning and relive what you constantly live every day you need to have something to believe in," he answered.

"And for me, this is God. He is what gives me the will I need to get up every morning, and fasting is just one of the many ways I show Him my appreciation."

His faith startled me. It astounds me to see how someone who has given so much to the world and received so little in return has such strong will.

Maybe it's because they, more than anyone else, need something to believe in. Or maybe modern society has placed value in all the wrong things.

While one person may be wealthy in terms of money, another may be wealthy in terms of love and family. Either way, I found Faisal's determination and love for life beautiful.

Your letters

University accreditation

There are many world-renowned foreign universities (branches) situated at Dubai Knowledge Village and are not accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education. What would be the status of these universities?

It is important to note that these universities are accredited by their respective governments.
A reader