Bahrain's very own 'father of orphans' urge youth to serve humanity
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Staff Reporter
A leading charity pioneer in Bahrain has called on youth to effectively take up the social role as the future of the nation and humanity is entrusted to them.
Khalil Al Daylami, Chairman of Tree of Life Charity Society, who is known as the ‘father of orphans’ in the region and beyond for the exceptional charity services he has been offering, was the man of the moment after he received a surprise honour at Diyar Al Muharraq traffic signal in Bahrain.
The surprise event was jointly organised by the Information Ministry and stc Bahrain. The ‘surprise honour’ video went viral within no time and it was one of the most watched videos across the world during the past week.
During an exclusive interaction with The Daily Tribune, Mr Khalil said the charity initiative headed by him, supports over 750 orphans, around 1,000 needy individuals and nearly 350 single mothers.
When asked about the “surprise honour event”, he said he doesn’t believe in personal glorification. “In Islam, there is no place for personal glorification. The two important principles in the religion is to believe in God and serve humanity. I believe I have been performing my duty to society. And the smiles in the faces of my children offer me the driving force to move forward.”
Mr Khalil, an architect by profession, is a graduate in civil engineering and architecture from the University of Alexandria. After working two years with Bapco, he went ahead setting up his own consultancy firm Daylami Consulting Engineers, which has implemented many landmark construction projects in the Kingdom.
“Tree of Life Charity Society was set up in the year 2012 and we are now nearing ten years of our active existence. My definition of charity goes a little beyond merely supporting individuals. The aim should be to bring smiles on the faces of children and individuals, whom we support as they deserve to be happy.
“Happiness is one of the top priorities in our society. We do everything possible to make our children happy. Meritorious students who score over 97 per cent are offered foreign trips. Picnics, walkathons and other enjoyment activities are a common thing at our centre. Recently, we took some students to Dubai to visit Expo2020.
“Our lives are very much limited and we shouldn’t lose our basic values, which always focus on helping others.” Highlighting the need to support orphans in all possible forms, Mr Khalil recalled a heart-touching moment.
“One fine day, I was playing with my children at the society and one seven-year-old boy came near me and asked ‘Who are you to me? Can I call you my father? “When we live in the midst of our parents, siblings, relatives and friends, we really don’t understand the value of relationships. But for an orphan, it is the absence of these things that teaches the value of relations.”
Mr Khalil’s message to youth is very simple. “Don’t be selfish. Help people, say good words to them and you can see how your lives get transformed. I have been trying to do this. I love to help others and my happiness out of it is beyond any reckoning.”
He said most of the youth are trapped in material ambitions, which is not the right approach. “I agree that materials can give some pleasure. But it is temporary and won’t persist longer. But believe me, the happiness derived out of helping others will be there with us until the last breath. It is not momentary.”
Mr Khalil said he faced enormous challenges while taking the activities of the society forward. “The world has two kinds of people - one with positivity and others with negativity. The negative people are there to criticise you, especially when you do something good. They will try to tear you into pieces, they will only attempt to disappoint you. Ignoring such people is the first step in overcoming the challenges.”
Mr Khalil said he is thankful to many people, who have come forward and volunteered to carry forward the activities of the society.
“Our volunteer list is too long and it comprises doctors, dentists and other experts. They have all been offering their services with my children’s welfare in mind. And I am really thankful to them.”
Mr Khalil offers special advice to youth through YouTube videos in Arabic regularly posted by the society. Mr Khalil, now 67 years old, was born in Moharkha in Manama. He is the father of four children - three sons and one daughter. Two of his children are architects, taking the great legacy of their great father forward.
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