A pupil in Abu Dhabi raised Dh11,000 for people born with cleft lips and palates, after urging his friends and relatives to donate to the cause instead of buying him birthday presents.
Maximilian Hoehn, 10, saw several photos of children before and after the repair surgery and said he felt it was important to help.
He partnered with Operation Smile, a global non-profit organisation, that helps those who cannot afford the surgery get access to treatment.
I didn't want any gifts for myself and wanted to use the money for those who needed it
A cleft lip or palate is a birth defect that happens when a baby’s lip or mouth is not formed properly during pregnancy.
The Cleft Lip and Palate Association reported that one in 700 babies are born with a cleft globally.
“One year, I could hardly tell what I would like to have for my birthday,” Maximilian said.
“I am happy and have everything I need, so I asked about other children who I could help. I didn’t want any gifts for myself and wanted to use the money for those who needed it.”
The Hoehn family decided to work with the UAE branch of the Operation Smile organisation and started a YallaGive page. The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department licensed his donation drive.
Maximilian’s father, Christian Hoehn, said that once the fundraiser was set up, they asked his grandparents, other relatives and friends to donate.
“As my company supported Operation Smile before, we knew that the money is really used for a good cause and that nothing gets lost in bank transfers or similar," he said.
“We know that many doctors, nurses and support staff contribute their free time to help children with a cleft.
“Operation Smile is doing a great job finding these doctors and nurses, finding hospitals which they can use for free or very little money and finding hotels where the surgery team, the patient and his family can stay. We liked this charity as it helps change a child’s life.”
The goal was to raise Dh10,000, but Maximilian managed to get Dh11,011.
The average cost of a repair surgery per person can range between Dh30,000 to Dh70,000.
But Operation Smile UAE manages to bring down the cost sometimes through partnerships and volunteers.
Morag Cromey-Hawke, director of operations at Operation Smile UAE, said the funds raised by Maximilian would help many patients.
“What he did was amazing. The money will go towards paying for the expenses for surgeries for children in the UAE and also towards the international medical missions once they have resumed operations,” she said.
“So for people in Malawi, Madagascar, Vietnam, Philippines, Morocco and Jordan.”
Operation Smile was founded in 1982 and the UAE branch was formed in 2011.
Since its inception, more than 3,500 children globally have benefitted from the help provided by the UAE office.
In the last four years, 55 patients in the Emirates have been operated on.
“We've also provided comprehensive care, as well as speech and language therapy,” Ms Cromey-Hawke said.
“We provide dental and orthodontic treatment. Our paediatricians are amazing. They follow up on the new babies and help teach the mothers how to feed the baby.”
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
We Weren’t Supposed to Survive But We Did
We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.
We weren’t supposed to remember but we did.
We weren’t supposed to write but we did.
We weren’t supposed to fight but we did.
We weren’t supposed to organise but we did.
We weren’t supposed to rap but we did.
We weren’t supposed to find allies but we did.
We weren’t supposed to grow communities but we did.
We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
