Shattering the myth of the Dubai Brat
Action-packed video games, horror movies, blaring music, speeding cars, foul language and outrageous fashions are just a few words associated with today’s youth. But some young people want to add voluntary work to that list.
Teenagers and young adults across the UAE are setting about doing what they can to make the world a better place, from raising awareness about environmental issues to helping out at labour camps.
Such super enthusiastic youngsters are Mahesh Raghavan, 19, and and Rohit Iyengar, 15, both Indians who have been doing such voluntary work for the past five years.
The pair recently put together a special performance of song and dance for workers living in one of the city’s labour camps in Dubai, where they sang songs and danced and also served food.
“We enjoyed performing for them, they clapped and cheered for us, which encouraged us tremendously,” Rohit told Emirates247.com.
The pair of friends and young social workers have also performed in a special musical programme, Stand up against Poverty, on behalf of the NGO International Association for Human Values (IAHV) , as part of an attempt to help eradicate poverty by 2015.
“By doing this concert we realised how a small group of people can greatly affect people's lives and that is what encourages us to do more social work,” said Mahesh.
Pushpa Raghavan, Mahesh’s mother, says her son is now committed to helping every section of society.
“He says even when he becomes a big musician, he will do charity work. In fact he wants to earn a lot of money so he can give more to charity,” she says.
Rohit’s mother, working woman Sandhya Prakash, also feels social work has changed her son’s approach to life.
“Working as a volunteer has expanded Rohit's view of the world and helped him take on more responsibility.
He normally does not do things for free and does ask to be rewarded.
But after helping at labour camps, it has also made him realise the value of money and time spent for a good cause and difference in being useful for others and for oneself.
His application of Business and Economics at school in perspectives for a profit-based organisation and for a non-profit venture has been very interesting,” she says.
Counsellors say its important for young people to involve themselves in charitable activities and voluntary work.
“Kids of that age group are generally occupied with themselves, cribbing about small things, wanting for more, 'why me' is what they keep wondering and moreover they underestimate themselves.
When they do some sort of social work, it changes their perspective.
They feel expanded when they take up such a responsibility, self realisation happens.
They understand it’s not just them suffering, there many more facing bigger and deeper challenges in life,” Pradeep Chandiramani, a counsellor at various city schools and a holistic healer, told Emirates247.com
Vasudha Vijay is a 22-year-old Indian national who volunteered for the Al Noor Centre for children with special needs.
She says it gave her immense pleasure to see the joyful faces and undimmed smiles of these children.
“This experience taught me that when you think of someone else and not just yourself it uplifts you because you are working to make someone else happy without any expectations,” she says.
“Volunteering is such that you do it once, you can’t help but go back and you stop taking things for granted.” she said.