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Since last year, Bahraini Yaqoob Yusuf Ahmed Mubarak and Mexican national Gilberto Rosas Landa have helped over 20 children, each with their own unique needs, improving their lives and changing their life with the right financial contribution or institutional connection.
Yaqoob, the 32-year-old from Isa Town, who owns London Chocolate in Riffa and Ramli Mall, now regularly flies to Peru to work with several children and stakeholders to help those in need.
Yaqoob, who has garnered more than 100,000 followers on Instagram since his efforts to help Victor came to the attention of South American media last year, was, for many in the country, the first Bahraini and Arab to lead humanitarian efforts in Peru.
His proudest moment came when he was invited to celebrate Bahrain’s National Day in Peru.
He said: “At first, I thought it was just a regular celebration, similar to those I had attended at the Bahraini embassy in Kuwait, when I had studied in the country. But when 38,000 people joined us, some from neighbouring countries like Venezuela and Columbia, all raising the Bahrain National Flag and pictures of the royal family, I was thoroughly touched.”
The celebratory event came after Yaqoob and Gilberto’s efforts to help those in need attracted interest in the media and online, which has now paved the way for them to set up a foundation, called Déjenos Ayudar, translated in English to “Do you want to help?”, so that they can raise awareness and funds to help families and improve life around the world.
Gilberto added: “We don’t want to take donations from anyone. In our time doing this, we have realised that we want people to have that feeling of donating and making a difference themselves. So, we just connect those who want to donate with those that really need those donations.”
Yaqoob continued: “For our own efforts, we plan to start a restaurant there with the aid of noted social media personality and culinary artist Chef Fatima Jamal Dawood. All the profits from this restaurant will aid cases that we believe need the most urgent help.”
Amongst the cases that they have helped themselves, Juliet, a seven-year old child who had to have a leg amputated and prosthetic fitted, Salvador, who has scoliosis and Angel, who was in desperate need of a new wheelchair stand out.
Their endeavours, financially totalling more than BD7500 (USD20000) have made them neighbourhood Robin Hoods in Peru, lending them credibility which they have channelled into working with authorities on several large-capital programs, including the building of a women’s shelter.
Going forward, they intend to work with large scale foundations like the Lionel Messi Foundation to effect change and empower others like them to invest their time into making a difference, one child at a time.
