Dubai based Syrian boy donates Dh75000 to Philippines

Date

12/21/2015 8:34:30 PM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Marwan Masri 15 the eldest son of a Syrian doctor in Dubai has made his parents very proud by one grand gesture.

Marwan a grade 11 student of Al Mawakeb School has donated Dh75000 -- his entire savings and pocket money of eight years -- to the victims of typhoon Melor (called Nona in the Philippines) that hit central Philippines on December 18.

Dubai-based Syrian boy donates Dh75000 to Philippines typhoon victims (2 of 2)http://ktimes.co/xb15yHere's what Marwan Masri has to sayVideo: Dhes Handumon/Khaleej Times

Posted by Khaleej Times on Monday 21 December 2015

On the same day Marwan a football fan who supports Barcelona sent off the tidy sum that was otherwise being saved to (in another year) buy himself a Porsche colour undecided.

Resident of the UAE for 17 years Princes Ppelorin the long-time family friend of the Masris and personal assistant of Dr Gehad Al Masri for the last two years says: "When I went to my boss and told him this has happened he immediately gave me Dh10000" for the relief materials. People don't have homes left everything was destroyed. "They are very generous very humble. They are family to me".

She says even her friends immediately snapped into action as well collecting money for rice noodles canned food -- sardines to send back home. Dr Gehad Al Masri Marwan's father who has been in the UAE 18 years sends money every month to Syria. Marwans's environment has made him sensitive to disasters tragedies and war.

The teenager turning 16 on January 4 has been especially affected by the typhoon's aftermath as 90 per cent of his the staff (60 of 75 employees) at his father's clinic are native to the Philippines. Some of the affected have been weeping to Dr Gehad Al Masri about their homes being destroyed and about homes and lives of their relatives being ruined.

Nona destroyed the town of Pinamalayan that affected almost 20000 families where more than 10000 families became homeless.

Talking to the media is a new one for Marwan. Sitting in his father's clinic he tells Khaleej Times "How could I not be affected?" When asked how long the decision took him to make - he says "Sometimes the most important decisions in your life are made in a split second."

Marwan has for eight years incentivized by his own good marks in school. "I have to work hard if I want to become a doctor" says the poetry lover a fan of the poem 'Thanatopsis' by William Cullen Bryant. "It's my passion to become a doctor."

If he does well in school -- gets straight As -- his father puts down Dh20000 in his name. It's been five years of getting good grades. The money has accumulated. In the Philippines people who have benefitted from that money have sent him pictures holding up hand written messages: 'Thank you Dr Gehad Masri God bless you. From: Pinamalayan Community' and another that says 'Thank you Marwan Masri from Syria God Bless You.'

Dubai-based Syrian boy donates Dh75000 to Philippines typhoon... Dubai-based Syrian boy donates Dh75000 to Philippines typhoon victims (1 of 2)http://ktimes.co/xb15yHere's what Marwan Masri has to sayVideo: Dhes Handumon/Khaleej Times

Posted by Khaleej Times on Monday 21 December 2015 Nivriti Butalia Nivriti writes features on turtles and fruit baskets and the importance of recycling your trash. Partial to quirkier human-interest stories she handles special reports about the environment higher education tourism heritage books. Her twitter handle is butniv.

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.