If all of us were to reach out and take one group of people under our wing, eventually those circles of caring would start to overlap and the world would be a much nicer place.

Adopt-a-Camp currently has 53 camps and 57,400+men under its wing.

The camps Adopt-a-Camp takes care of come under two categories:

Functioning camps are the permanently adopted ones where we work with the camp administration to enhance the lives of the men here by providing them with free English classes, free vocational classes, emotional counseling, hygiene workshops, outings so that they can actually have some wonderful experiences here rather than just slogging between their camps and worksites.

By adopting these boys, we are also reaching out to their families and communities. By educating them and improving their standard of living and earning capacity, we are improving the standard of living of their entire families and villages. Knowledge transfer has a beautiful butterfly effect. In the villages our boys are from, child literacy levels are increasing, especially for girls, dysentery and infection levels are down and thrillingly, child mortality levels are down too. People are hungry for knowledge. They want to learn. They want to better their lot in life. They just need to be given the chance.

The creation of the Scholarship Fund (first two years' funds awarded by Kraft-Philadelphia from their Most Inspiring Woman in the Gulf Competition. Funds for third year onwards awarded by IBM) enables bright graduates of the English classes (organized with the wonderful AIA society and professors of American University of Dubai) to sit for the IELTs exam. Having an internationally-recognized accreditation under their belt results in tremendous increase in their salary potential, job opportunities and even opens up the door for emigration. It doesn't just change the life of the man breaking stones on the side of the road here...it changes the lives of his future generations too.

Abandoned camps we saw mostly during the recession. Those are camps where the employers have absconded, usually leaving the men with no food, water, electricity and months of unremunerated salaries. We take care of them in every way until they find work with another company or until they safely return home. Where we can, we continue to help them once they've returned home too. Each one of these men becomes family so it's hard to let go :-)

Adopt-a-Camp is working with the Ministry of Labour as a portal for the men to get fast and effective relief. The Ministry of Labour is hugely supportive of workers here and goes to great lengths to help them. In the cases of abandoned camps, as most of the men are illiterate and unaware of how to get justice, Adopt-a-Camp (by being on the ground) helps to bridge any gaps between the MOL and the men.

The albums are mostly of the side of things that the public gets to see. Dubai has had some huge, wonderful Volunteer Days and Nights where thousands of volunteers came together to source, pack and go into the camps to distribute thousands of what I call "Care Packages". The aim has been to make various camps bed-bug, cockroach and lice free. To give the men blankets, mattresses, hygiene items, food... basically, a fresh start... dignity. To date, over 35,000 hefty Care Packages have been distributed and countless food/water/clothes drop-offs.

The other side of things is behind the scenes and can be physically and emotionally more challenging. It involves all the other initiatives. Going to them, listening to them. I'm the mother/sister they don't have here and my message to them is that they are not alone... that the people of U.A.E. care about them very much... because if it weren't for your wonderful efforts and kindness, Adopt-a-Camp's work wouldn't be possible.

You have brought a smile to their faces, hope to their hearts and dignity to their souls. You have given them the greatest gift one human being can give another... you have cared. Adopt-a-Camp flies on your angel wings.

So, on behalf of myself and my 57,400+ boys, thank you.