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Dubai-based Syrian boy donates Dh75,000 to Philippines

15-year old Syrian boy in Dubai sends entire pocket money for victims of typhoon in the Philippines.

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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 Dh75,000 -- 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.

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 Dh10,000" 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 20,000 families, where more than 10,000 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 Dh20,000 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.'

nivriti@khaleejtimes.com