The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation¹
Globally one in every 113 humans is now either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum. To put that in perspective, the tally is greater than the population of the United Kingdom. Paradoxically, the onus of sheltering refugees inexplicably falls upon less developed countries. Indeed, the UNHCR estimates that 86% of the world’s refugees are sheltered by developing countries such as Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. Lebanon hosted more refugees compared to its population than any other country, with nearly one refugee amongst every five citizens.
Over the past several years, I have followed the refugee crisis through the lens of the media. Amid the blaring headlines, the shocking images, and the countless statistics we see, I wondered about the humans, how their lives unraveled and how life is in the camps. It was with these thoughts that I decided to volunteer in Greece this past June on behalf of Dubai Future Foundation, in line with the Year of Giving, and Carry the Future. Here is what I learnt.
Leadership is action, not a position²
There are plenty of people in positions of “leadership”, but true transformative leaders – with the courage and tenacity to tackle global challenges head on – are lacking. It’s much more than an indictment on international politics; it’s a systemic problem that permeates every level of society. A disconcerting 86% of respondents to the Survey on the Global Agenda agree that we have a leadership crisis in the world today. But what if our role models are working under the radar, absent of attention?
I believe volunteers and humanitarians are the heroes of the modern age. They are willing to roll up their sleeves and act. They sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. I was fortunate to meet with many inspiring individuals that are having such a profound impact. What mesmerized me most was that it is usually a form of work that goes unnoticed and is generally thankless – they don’t seek recognition nor praise. They are willing to forgo the deepest craving of human nature: The need to be appreciated. We should be doing more to recognize these leaders.
It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy
On our last night, we were invited to have Iftar with a family that had fled Iraq. Amid everything the family had been through – as well as the uncertainty surrounding their future – they treated us like we were family. They had the ability to see through the turmoil and were genuinely grateful for whatever life threw their way. It was a humbling experience and one that will stay with me for life.
I have recently read several books on happiness (highly recommend Happier, Tal Ben-Shahar). One recurring theme is the importance of gratitude. In tandem with this – and something that resonated with me in particular – seeking to control our external environment can lead to unhappiness. Uncertainty is part of life, whether we like it or not. Being overly controlling of outcomes is tantamount to setting yourself for up for disappointment. Among the vast ambiguity that surrounds the future of refugees, despite all of their challenging circumstances, it is inspiring to witness the gratitude and love they still emit.
Racism is not about how you look, it’s about how people assign meaning to how you look³
Integrating refuges into society will be the ultimate challenge. It is a multifaceted and challenging situation: Refugees arrive in countries already stricken by economic challenges. Greece has gone through seven governments over the past six years, private sector wages have been cut 40% on average and youth unemployment hovers around 50%. In certain factions, the resentment towards the refugee crisis was apparent, and dare I say comprehensible. Many questioned the opportunity cost of resources being funneled to the refugees. Tourism, which comprises 20% of the Greek economy, has unquestionably suffered. However, there is nothing inevitable about refugees being a cost. They are human beings with skills and aspirations, with the ability to make contributions – if we let them. In the clearest summary of this research, Philippe Legrain, a former adviser to the president of the European commission, found that refugees who arrived in Europe last year could repay spending on them almost twice over within just five years. The first obstacle to overcome is tackling the widespread fabrication, discrimination and apathy towards refugees. Unless the refugees are accepted into society, any efforts to integrate them will fall on deaf ears. Only then can we begin to leverage the diverse talents they possess. Fridoon Joinda, a refugee from Afghanistan that we met in Lesbos, was perplexed by the way he and his fellow campers were treated. In response, he put together a short video.
Why am I sharing this information with you? Among charitable people, there appears to be some reluctance to volunteer time, and instead donate money. If the purpose of a giving individual is to maximize the effect of his/her donation, then surely it is best to donate as effectively as possible. An individual who can sell time in the workplace for $100 per hour and whose volunteering work can be bought by the charity for $20 per hour has a comparative advantage in donating. In contrast, an individual whose volunteering value to the charity is $10 per hour but whose value in the labor market is $8 per hour, has a comparative advantage in volunteering. While this may make sense from afar, it does not factor in the positive externalities associated with volunteering time. Donating money is a key cog in the process but from my experience, it is more important to share awareness and understanding. The monetary concern eclipses the political issue at play: The humanitarian problem would go away if the people in the camps had somewhere to go. This is why I strongly advocate people to spend time with the refugees. Feel the effects of politics.
¹Corrie Ten Boom, ²Donald McGannon, ³Robin Kelley