I want to share the story of a woman that truly inspires me. Lola Lopez is the founder of Volunteer in Dubai (2008), Abu Dhabi (2009), Sharjah (2010). Volunteer in Dubai was founded in mid 2008 with the purpose of bringing together any charity, organisation or cause with residents that are eager to volunteer their time and give back to the community. This is a simple concept, which has had such a massively positive impact on so many organisations and individuals. 

Since January 2008, some 74,811 hours have been volunteered and DHS 2,681,795 raised by its 6173 members. This is a great achievement and one that would not have been possible without Lola's giant heart and passion to make the world a better place. 

There is no cause that goes ignored. From painting special needs schools, to cleaning public beaches, to Karama Kanteen which prepared and distributed some 45,000 meals to the hungry, to Fun Sundays for children with special needs, to clothing donations, to the areas first Blood Donation operation, these are just a few examples and only touches the surface of what Lola and her strong team of volunteers have accomplished. 

You only have to view the comments on the links below to see how Lola inspires the community and the love that she spreads by giving others the opportunity to give to others. She truly is an angel.

You only have to view the comments on the links below to see how Lola inspires the community and the love that she spreads by giving others the opportunity to give to others. She truly is an angel.
To be a part of this amazing organisation visit www.volunteerindubai.com

http://www.facebook.com/VolunteerinSharjah
http://www.facebook.com/VolunteerinAbuDhabi
http://www.facebook.com/volunteerindubai

Like any mother, I've always wanted my daughter to have a bright future. That's why I started helping her to choose her field, even before she entered high school. She had always liked science, and we would talk about the kind of jobs our country needs. I tried to encourage her to take up Medicine, but she would say "No I don't want to become a doctor because no one will marry me". She wanted to do exactly what I did (got married yet continued to pursue my studies and work while raising my children.) As the days went by, I wasn't able to hide my annoyance but I decided not to nag her and tell her that she should think seriously about her future, especially considering that she's my only daughter and that her future is full of potential..

I'm a History teacher and was discussing my daughter's situation with my colleagues at school. During our discussion, one of my colleagues told me about a three-day workshop that was taking place at one of the Special Needs centers. They required volunteers and so she encouraged me to get my daughter involved.

I liked the idea and I asked my daughter Lujain to attend the workshop at the center. I managed to get her three-day absence permission from her school administrator, who was surprised by the reason behind my request.

Lujain attended the workshop and was so eager to come home and tell me all about the center and the special needs children that she had met. I was so touched and decided that we have to get to know these children more but then she started talking about another group in the center - it was the deaf and mute group. She was so impressed by the "sign language" and was very interested in how they communicate together and interact with the translator. Throughout the three days, she would come home excited to have spent the day with these people. I asked her to enquire more about them and to find out if they had a center dedicated to their needs.

I contacted the men's club and I started to ask about the deaf. The first question I was asked was "Is your daughter deaf"? I said "Thank God no". They asked me why I was so interested in the deaf and dumb so I told them that my daughter had met some of them at a workshop and that she had become very close to them and wanted to know more about them. They told me that the club is only for men and there is no place for deaf girls except in the government schools and once they finish their studies, they end up at home and are educationally, socially, and psychologically alienated. The club manager started telling me more about their problems and that he had long had an idea to establish such a club for girls and that Prince Abdul-Majeed Bin Abdul-Aziz (may he rest in peace), the ex-ruler of Mecca had given his approval but that they still hadn't found someone to spearhead it.

Understanding what needed to be done, I signed my daughter and myself up for a special "sign language" training course. After that I attended a conference in Bahrain for the deaf and had the opportunity to meet deaf people from all over the Gulf. Watching them on stage, presenting using sign language, made me realize just how talented these people were. The sign language was just wonderful! There were women and men, translators with different interpretations and methods of sign language. During the break, I met Mr. Adel Taref, the president of the men's club and he asked me to run the girls' club. For a moment, I was speechless but then I told him that I was already employed and that I couldn't work somewhere else!!!! At that point I couldn't help but wonder why I had replied so quickly without giving the matter more consideration.

During lunch, and with the help of the interpreter, my daughter and I managed to communicate with the deaf people on a range of topics. I found that there was no specific venue for the girls to go for training, so the meetings would take place at the men's venue. I quickly replied that men and women should have their separate places and they told me they were clearing a room for the girls to use. I left thinking hard about whether or not to accept their offer, I guess deep down I already knew that I will be taking care of these girls. Returning to my home in Saudi, I got my husband's consent, managed my time, and immediately embarked on my mission with these angels. I visited the location, which was a deserted place, lots of work was required. I requested for a budget but the answer was NO. I requested for assistance from the men's center and the answer was "start and we will stand beside you!! Start by receiving the girls and we'll take it from there". And thus my mission began with the one tiny room allotted to me. The girls began coming with their mothers as soon as the club was open for registration. I was amazed and couldn't understand where they were all coming from; I would look at their faces and wonder how is it that I have never met them before even though we all lived in the same city?! I had so many questions in my mind but the minute I saw their faces - they were so spontaneous and shy - I decided to never let them go.

Following the registration phase, I had to look out for jobs for these girls. Where? How? I had to find a solution... A few days later, the girls were offered jobs in Arfan hospital; we all went for the interview, it was more like a wedding convoy: I was leading and the parents were following me in their cars. We met with the manager and he accepted three girls. The minute I saw how happy the girls were and how they were convincing their parents, I realized that I needed to continue my mission. I couldn't stop. I don't know how I did it but I started repairing the center with the help of my family and friends. We organized a "sign language" session across KSA and we flew in more than 250 trained translators from the Gulf. I started talking about the center even if it was only one room. People wanted to visit us but I was so embarrassed to welcome anyone in that small space. Once again I approached the men's center and requested for more rooms.

With the help of God and my family, we built a small kitchen, my sister's husband got us computers, my sister brought in some hair-dressing equipment. Trainers started coming to see the center and they encouraged and supported me. Then the volunteers started to come and I started to teach the "sign language". I became a special trainer and my life changed in a way I had never planned. I started to fix all rooms and the number of girls enrolled increased and now the club is equipped with state-of-the-art computers lab, hair-dressing salon, and a fully equipped kitchen, embroidery institution, art section, and a lecture room where seminars and specialized courses are held. Thanks to all these people, more than 150 deaf girls have found jobs and about 50 got married. The women's club has become a place for social interaction and activities. It is always open for speakers to spread concepts like volunteering as well as teach the sign language to anyone who is interested. It has allowed deaf people to be integrated in the society and they have proven that they can work and give back to their country. 

Thanks to these angels, my ambitions have grown and have no limits. 

This is my story...

Unwinding the film of my mother's life (journey in life) is truly inspiring and can only arouse admiration. What to say of her dedication, persistence and readiness to overcome any challenges that come in the way. 

Helping the poor and caring for the needy was a philosophy that she was spoon-fed with all her life first within her family then later on when she married. A young widow at the age of 30, and a mother of 6 daughters and a son, she first dedicated her time to her young children inculcating us principles and solid rules. She was always the driving force who kept us gathered together.

She followed our education very closely and at the same time had us learn The Holy Quran and follow religious courses. That was mandatory to all and non negotiable. 

Ahead of her time, she made sure that all her daughters get the proper education abroad, which was an exception in Kuwait in the late 1940's. She knew that education was the best power and force that they can have to ascertain their future. In 1978, she did not even hesitate to move with one of my sisters, who needed to finish her undergraduate studies, to the United States of America. She made use of her stay there to improve her skills in embroidery and couture. 

However, that did not stop her from pursuing her charitable and humanitarian work and when the Kuwait Women Society was launched in 1961, she was from the beginning fully involved, first as a board member and then for six years a treasurer until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. 

Because she liked sewing, she created a tailoring section within the society and was organizing, with the help of a group of female members, fashion shows and bazaars for fund raising; part of the money raised was allocated to support the society and part of it to help Palestinian orphanages and schools in Jerusalem. She also adopted an orphan Palestinian child whom she fully sponsored until the tragic invasion of Kuwait. 

Would she have known I was divulging this trait of her character and her long standing story of charity she would certainly have resisted because she believes that we should be charitable but never publicize what we are doing, according to the precepts of Islam. 

Oum Qais was very well known among her colleagues of the Kuwait Society for her talents in fundraising - she was excellent and would raise large sums for all kinds of causes. When the Kuwait Women Society came with the idea of building a village in Northern Sudan she was one of the most active fundraisers and soon "Qaryat Hanan "in Kassala, North Eastern Sudan was born. It was entire village with all possible shops necessary, housings etc. My mother also participated in the fundraising for the building of a village for the orphans in Lebanon. 

Besides raising funds she herself has devoted her personal time to conduct amongst others sewing workshops, carpentry and farming to encourage women to work and earn leaving. 

She resumed her activities immediately at the liberation of Kuwait, quietly working and helping those in need. In Kuwait she started by creating exquisite handmade pieces (artisan at) that she would sell in charity bazaars that she organized herself; all the profits of the bazaars were donated to Hussain Makki Jumaa Cancer Center to help needy cancer patients, buy airplane tickets, wheelchairs or certain expensive medicines or sponsor expensive medical procedures.

The idea of launching an association was in my mother's mind for many years. It was triggered after she herself lived through the ordeal of losing a loved one - my nephew - to this disease. While he was being treated in America my mother noted the efficacy and efficiency of the cancer support groups there.

At the time, Oum Qais asked for the support of all her family, relatives and friends. They were of course all so confident of her ability to handle this humanitarian work and charity, that they all gave her the support she needed. 

The association started first on a small scale with a group of dedicated volunteer women. Hayat4Cancer was launched unofficially in 2003 but soon it expanded and due to the excellent work and assistance provided to the cancer patients, the Ministry of Social Affairs recognized it and accepted it to be an official and registered foundation under their supervision. Actually Hayat4Cancer is a branch of the: "Rugaya A. Al-Qatami Charity Foundation & Cancer Patients Helping Fund" (2008). 

Our association is composed of a group of dedicated volunteers. All the proceeds received from the donations are entirely spent purchasing the chemotherapy for the patients. 

Our Association has three key goals:

* Providing free of charge expensive chemotherapy to expatriates non-GCC nationals residing in Kuwait, assisting them with their treating physicians to the end of their treatment, and morally supporting them. 

* Breast cancer support group for Kuwait patients

* In a very near future launching in association with the Ministry of Health a nationwide program on breast cancer screening for Kuwaiti women to raise awareness and improve the status of health in Kuwait, our beloved country.

Our sponsorship includes 23 different nationalities: Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Soudan, Yemen, Bulgaria, Canada, Iran, Lebanon, India, Morocco Philippines, Sri-Lanka, Iraq, Bangladesh, China, United States of America, Australia, and non- Kuwaitis (Bedoons). Since Ramadan September 2007 we have sponsored 207 cancer patients at a cost of more than 2.5 million Kuwaiti Dinars: including breast cancer, lymphoma, colon cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and brain cancer. 

Since Ramadan September 2007 we have sponsored 207 cancer patients at a cost of more than 2.5 million Kuwaiti Dinars: including breast cancer, lymphoma, colon cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and brain cancer.

This may appear a "drop in the ocean" but with the help and support of those very generous and big hearted donors, we have succeeded to help some of the patients. Because we have the technical expertise, a branch of the charity foundation helps in other parts of the Arab world - "Help Yemen" deals with specific health problems related to childhood cancer and breast cancer in Yemen and "Hayat in Syria" was launched lately and is providing technical advice to build a cancer hospital outside of Damascus. 

This is my mother, well known in Kuwait as "Oum Qais Alghanim" a discreet and generous Grande Dame, a philanthropist, our driving force who is always able to give a helping hand to whomever who needs it.