I founded Helping Hands in 2016 with my daughters to teach them the importance of empathy, humility, and gratitude for what we had. What began as a small effort to support children battling cancer in India has grown into a deeply meaningful journey of giving back.

 

In 2018, I felt a strong desire to expand this initiative here in the UAE—a place that has given my family and me so much. I realized that many laborers living in camps often send most of their earnings back home, leaving little for themselves. That’s when I started Feed the Labor, an extension of Helping Hands aimed at supporting underprivileged laborers by providing them with essentials to improve their daily lives.

 

This initiative has not only been about giving back but also about creating opportunities for families to instill empathy and gratitude in their children. It’s inspiring to see families join us, with children as young as 10 years old learning the values of kindness and compassion through these efforts.

 

What began as a small weekly activity has now grown into a larger community initiative. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we currently support hundreds of laborers every Sunday. My dream is to expand this effort to 3 or 4 more camps, reaching thousands of individuals each week.

 

For me, Helping Hands is more than just an initiative; it’s a way to honor the values of compassion, gratitude, and service. It’s a reminder that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of change.

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 - Simran Bhatia