Arabs Practicing Empathy: Why National Random Acts of Kindness Day Should be an Everyday Thing!
Yes, there are many national days and yes we all hear the same silly joke from any grumpy soul wondering when their own national day is? But regardless of all of that, some world days are really worth celebrating especially if it is something lacking globally like kindness even more so in our beloved region. So as National Random Acts of Kindness Day is upon us. How much did the MENA region participate in it?
The Day
National Random Acts Of Kindness Day originated in New Zealand. It is celebrated annually on Feb. 17, through various acts of kindness depending on the culture. Small kind gestures like paying for the person behind you in line or leaving a sweet note without any explanations in addition to other cute actions you can think of that might uplift a person’s day.
The Acts
Regarding the MENA region, there were so many random acts of kindness. Making us all look at them in admiration wanting to follow their lead. So here is a list of 10 of said random and not so random acts of kindness.
Sheikh Hamdan Being an Animal Rescuer and Lover
First, was Sheikh Hamdan rescuing a dog in Sharjah emirate. The act was a surprising incident to the whole conservative region with many strict opinions about dealing with dogs from a religious point of view but, humanity was above all this time.
AboFalah the Kuwaiti YouTuber
The fundraising Livestream was done by AboFalah, the Kuwaiti YouTuber. It was made in collaboration with UAE officials and organizations to provide warmth and shelter for refugees in the region. A true kind act that moved the whole world and restored our faith in humanity.
Dubai Metro Station Employee Lending a Helping Hand
Back in early 2021, a Dubai Metro station employee named Abdullah topped up the metro card of a journalist who forgot her wallet. The kind employee did not accept any type of repayment or compensation.
Giving a Break with Parking Tickets
On the website, Emirate Diary, an anonymous submission recalls a random act of kindness in Karama, Dubai, where a middle-aged lady gave him her breaking ticket with a 20-minute lift on it saving him money without him even asking or even knowing him.
The Pregnant Cat that got Saved
In late 2021, four good Samaritans saved a pregnant cat from falling. The viral video back then made it to the top viewed that HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum reposted it giving the four their praises.
The Talabat Driver that Kept on Delivering
Early February of this year, Abbas, a Pakistani Talabat driver saved an Egyptian family from a lot of grief and distress. He found a bag that belongs to the family on his way to deliver an order in Sharjah. The contained 20,000 AED and very important documents. Abbas was adamant to return the bag to its owners so much so that he called 12 times until they responded. The whole incident is such a heart-warming moment for everyone.
Charlie Barker, Supporting the Unsupported at an Abu Dhabi School
Also early February, a young boy by the name of Charlie Barker suggested the very unique yet effective idea of wearing clothes inside out at school, in solidarity with awareness of mental health on the day of the initiative “inside out Day.” The students went on and joined Charlie in wearing their clothes inside out in moving unison to any witnessing public.
Expanding Mercy for Animals with the Rahma Shelter
Moving from UAE to Saudi Arabia where Shokran Aljihani, age 29 started Rahma, an animal shelter. Although it doesn’t seem that much, the concept of pet adopting is fairly new to the Saudi nation. So the act of kindness here isn’t just in providing shelter for animals but it is also in introducing the whole concept to a society that is more on the traditional side of things. So what Shokran is doing is not just being kind but spreading the concept of being kind.
Egyptians Sharing Kindness Through the Pandemic
From Egypt with love. This viral act of kindness may be a bit dated since it happened at the start of the pandemic but it shows the true hearts of the Egyptian people. Back when international flights were banned, people here in Egypt posted on social media that they can help if anyone who couldn’t get to their home country needed any type of support while they were away from their own families. Also, Egyptians living abroad offered the same to people who couldn’t leave the country, they even opened up their homes for those in need back at that time.
Pay It Foward Initiative
Back to Saudi, where the initiative of Pay it Forward started, by Basma Altwejri, age 26. She mentions that she felt the need for it back when she was volunteering in high school. She did a lot of charities with Pay it Forward, like feeding those in need and offering supplies as well as other means of support.
The Strive
We can only hope that these acts from the MENA region will make us all strive to be more kind and actively participate in doing acts of kindness not just on a National day but in our day-to-day life. Moreover, kindness has many shapes and forms, we just have to look for it relentlessly and remember that every one of us has our own struggles on a daily. So it wouldn’t hurt anyone if we all just were a little kinder to each other.
