A GOOD Samaritan has been visiting care homes and clubs for the elderly offering her make-up and hairstyling skills free of charge and her ‘big hearted’ endeavours have led to a wave of appreciation and messages of admiration on social media.
The shy 33-year-old, who has asked to be identified only as Zainab, says she’s just happy to make a productive use of her time and skills as she’s currently job hunting.
“I’ve been taking care of my elderly mother who can’t leave the house and happily colour her hair and wax her eyebrows and generally help make her feel good,” she explained. “It got me thinking there must be many more women like her who require these services, but find it difficult to get out and about.
“Even as a young girl, I enjoyed visiting and talking to the elderly in my neighbourhood and this has been a natural progression.
“I enjoy talking to them and doing their hair and we’ve established a strong bond together.
“I’m currently unemployed so I want to use my free time to give something back to society. As a community, we must come together with such initiatives to solidify community partnership, national unity and compassion.”
She has been surprised and delighted that so many positive comments have been posted, but insisted she had been happy to ‘go under the radar’ and simply lend a helping hand when needed.
She has met up with other good Samaritans on her travels around the kingdom who want to give something back to the community.
Among them was dermatologist Dr Hassan Khalaf, from Bahrain Health Medical Centre, who offers free consultations to the elderly.
“I will be working in close collaboration with Zainab with any cases that require dermatology consultations, if they have health problems, or if they suffer allergic reactions,” he told the GDN.
“This is the least we can do because the elderly raised us, educated us and provided us with the tools to have a promising future.
“Giving something back helps bring the community closer together and ensures ‘good karma’ continues into the future.”
UCO Parents Care Centre director general Reema Bin Shams has revealed that arrangements are underway with Zainab to visit all the elderly clubs under its umbrella.
She told the GDN that although many centres and clubs collaborate with local salons on a regular basis, they often face challenges during peak celebratory and holiday seasons.
“When we received the call from Zainab offering to provide these services, we welcomed her incredibly kind and heart-warming gesture and arranged for collaboration with all 14 clubs under our supervision,” she told the GDN.
“This is an important initiative because sometimes elderly women are too shy to go to salons, or they are physically or financially unable, so a Bahraini woman pioneering this initiative and coming to them brings smiles to their faces.
“It’s extremely heart-warming. We would welcome more people willing to come forward and volunteer.”
reem@gdnmedia.bh
- Editor’s note: In appreciation of Zainab’s community spirit, we have awarded her the inaugural GDN Media Gold Medal of Appreciation to celebrate Bahrain’s ‘unsung heroes’.
- If you know of any others, let us know by contacting our newsroom, email the News Editor: sandy@gdnmedia.bh
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