Rasha Essam Al-Shawaf is a third-year Saudi medical student studying in Riyadh. She has always had an interest in helping her community in any way she can.
Asked how she would describe herself in three words, she said: dedicated, empathetic and patient. Rasha not only speaks both English and Arabic fluently, she recently took it upon herself to learn Braille in both languages in order to help the blind.
At the young age of 20, Rasha has already helped organize and participated in many charity events.
She has volunteered for the following:
• Blood Donation Campaigns by KFSH&RC (King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center)
• International Women’s Day
• SANAD-Children’s Cancer Support Society
• Saudi Alzheimer Disease Association
• Saudi Cancer Society
• Smile, You are Blessed
• Zahra Breast Cancer Walk for the Cure
Arab News met Rasha and asked how and why she has such a keen interest in helping the less fortunate and how others wishing to do the same can get involved.
What made you decide to start helping the less fortunate in your community?
Since I was a child I loved helping others even if it was as simple as making them smile. Helping others allows me to experience the real meaning of happiness as it satisfies my heart and feeds my soul. In addition, helping others is very rewarding and beneficial in so many ways as it helps me overcome stress and become more compassionate.
Moreover, I feel strongly for others and seeing them in pain really saddens me. Therefore, I always do my best to compensate for what they lack and do the maximum I can to make them happy.
I keep myself motivated by remembering that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) helps those who extend a helping hand to others.
How long have you been helping the disabled and sick and in what way have you helped?
I am very passionate about volunteer work; I take part in different events during my free time. I have volunteered for very diverse events in areas such as education, medicine, science, and charity. I am currently a member of the Blind Children’s Association in Riyadh (Kafeef). In July 2012, I enrolled in an extensive Braille course for five continuous days.
I learned the basic aspects of Braille including alphabets, numbers, mathematical symbols, and punctuation marks in both Arabic and English. The experience was unforgettable and I feel honored that I can now read and write the language of visually challenged individuals. I like to call them visually gifted because their world is as bright, or for that matter, even brighter and more colorful than anyone else’s. I have future plans of organizing Braille sessions in English for the children since they are not familiar with the language. I voice-record printed books and lectures for the visually challenged. I would be more than happy to do this for anyone who needs my help.
I am currently part of the PR (Public Relations) team of an initiative called SMILE, you are blessed. The initiative, which is going to be fully established very soon, was thought up by a group of medical students at Al Faisal University. It aims to provide emotional and psychological support to cancer patients to ease their anxieties and suffering as much as possible. Another important goal of this initiative is to allow cancer patients to be more engaged and proactive in society.
How has helping others changed your life and what things have you learned along the way?
Helping others helped me explore who I am and learn more about myself. I strive to make this world a better place and through helping others, I hope I can achieve this goal!
Giving back to the community has an infinite number of benefits such as gaining valuable life experiences, meeting interesting people, making new friends and contacts, increasing social and relationship skills, and enjoying life in the best way possible.
Helping others has also taught me to be thankful for everything I have and never complain or feel sad about small things that do not matter. I feel very ashamed of myself when I shed tears on insignificant things especially when I know that someone somewhere else is smiling even though he/she is in a worse situation than I am.
My experience with the so-called disabled people has taught me that disability is not the same as inability despite the prejudices and biases that I see around me. Instead of looking at them as disabled, I like to view them as differently “abled” as they have unique talents and skills that “normal” people cannot match.
How have you been able to encourage others to help the community too?
It was eye-opening to realize that doing even small things can have a big impact on others. I always try to encourage my family, relatives, and friends to take part in different volunteering events. I tell them stories about my experiences and how happy I feel about what I do. I find social media to be very effective in raising awareness and inspiring others. Facebook and Twitter are two websites which I use to post/tweet inspirational quotes and words about remembering others and feeling for them. I feel happy to see that people around me take more interest in volunteering activities.
Arab News recently published a short article about an event I organized in the Blind Children’s Association. The article is called “A Helping Hand” and can be found online on the Arab News website.
Do you feel you have to work harder in having your voice heard by society because you are a woman?
It is not an easy job to change the way a certain society thinks as people’s mindsets and ingrained/dominant social perspectives guide their social attitudes. It requires a lot of hard work and effort to draw people’s attention to make them focus on the bright side of things.
Examining the issue of disability and how people view the so-called disabled should be reconsidered. Unfortunately, disability is usually associated with severe impairment, inability, deficiency, disqualification, incapacity, pity, and weakness.
In my own dictionary, the definition of the word “disability” is different. I proudly define disability as a challenge that can be overcome by being perseverant, confident, strong, passionate, ambitious, and by simply believing that disability is not the same as inability.
Nothing is impossible and challenged individuals can achieve great things. How many of us are “normal” people yet have not achieved anything so far? How many challenged individuals on the other hand have left a huge imprint in history? Helen Keller and Louis Braille are two distinguished visually impaired historical figures (among many) who were considered “disabled” by society yet they made a positive change in the lives of many individuals that is felt to this day.
Being a female, I feel so encouraged to make a positive change in the world. Unfortunately, many of us think that the word “female” is associated with weakness and vulnerability. However, I will soon prove this equation wrong, Insha’Allah.
How supportive has your family been, considering you are a medical student who is still studying?
I am very thankful to my family for being so cooperative and understanding. They always encourage me and keep me going whenever I feel like giving up. I can say that my family is very supportive, Alhamdulillah. I hope I can repay them one day by always keeping them happy and making them proud of me and my achievements. Of course, no matter how much I write, I will not be able to give them what they deserve.
Where do you see yourself and the country of Saudi Arabia 15 years from now in terms of medical innovation and advancements, and cultural change?
Science and medicine are progressing at a fast pace. I think that there will be huge advancements in the field of science and medicine through research. I have a feeling that new cures, surgeries and instruments will be introduced to decrease the pain and suffering in this world.
As far as cultural change is concerned, I have high hopes that society will become more understanding, cooperative, and inclusive. I see us working hand in hand and thriving as one entity. I see us achieving our dreams by helping others achieve theirs.
As for me, I see myself as a social worker and an established medical doctor with a happy family, Insha’Allah.
Can you give one piece of advice to people with disabled or seriously sick children in the family?
Support. Support. Support.
Families with challenged children should be very supportive and understanding. They should be very patient and confident that their children are capable of achieving great things in future.
I understand that life can be very tough but a positive attitude would minimize suffering and maximize happiness.
A sincere request to families with disabled children is “please do not isolate your children from society”. They deserve to be treated like any other person in this world.
Also, try to engage your children in society by sending them to normal schools, encouraging them to be proactive community members, and doing beneficial activities during their free time such as learning how to cook, draw, swim…etc.
I hope that one day society will understand that disability is not the same as inability. Handicapped people might be disabled in a way; but they are gifted in many other ways which can be an inspiration to others.
At the end, I would like to share a quote by Thomas S. Monson:
“Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save.”
I would like to extend my gratitude to Arab News for allowing me to share my message with a wider audience.
Twitter: @RashaSH93
E-mail: [email protected]
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In sickness and in health: Providing for the community
In sickness and in health: Providing for the community
![In sickness and in health: Providing for the community In sickness and in health: Providing for the community](https://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/media/09/10/2013/Ahsia-Mirza-1.jpg?itok=evmD3aa8)