Devastated expat cleaner finds humanity is not lost

Yousuf, a cleaner, was devastated when he lost his “dream phone” worth BD 43, which he bought after saving money for many months, but thanks to kind-hearted residents, he now has a new phone. The Bangladesh national, who earned a modest income, could not send money back home for a couple of months because he was saving it to buy a smartphone. 

“I couldn’t send money home because I wanted to buy a phone. It had Internet, which allowed me to talk and even see my family once a month,” Yousuf said, adding that he believes that his phone was stolen. 

Social Worker and ‘Biriyani party with workers’ founder Abbas Khan and members of the initiative, along with workers then decided to help Yousuf. 

“Yousuf was obviously very upset after he lost the phone. He requested my help to accompany him to Manama Police Station to file a police complaint to find his mobile,” Khan said.

Working as a cleaner, Yousuf receives a monthly salary of BD 60 and BD 2.2 extra for each hour worked overtime. In a month, he makes about BD 85 - 95 on an average. 

“Yousuf and his colleagues are provided with a return ticket once in every three years. Food is not provided by employer. Living in Akar, they wake up at 4.30 am and get picked by 5 am. The day gets over by 7 pm  or at times 8pm. Once back in the camp, they cook - eat and sleep. They spend minimum on their expenses and send the rest back home. Yousuf has three children back home,” Khan said.

Members of the group came together to fund the phone and they were able to negotiate a good deal for the smart phone. 

“Thanks to all those who offered to help him, we managed a good deal with very little funds. In his super-excited tone, Yousuf said he could not believe that he got a mobile from people he doesn’t even know. He thinks its a miracle,” Khan said.

“A miracle made possible by kind, empathetic, compassionate hearts. So much is possible when we care to care,” a group member commented.