Humanitarian activist Nurfarahin Romli, 32, better known as Farah Lee, said women’s natural compassion gives them a unique advantage in comforting victims who are traumatised and in need of emotional support.
“The gentle nature of women allows us to connect naturally with children. When we interact with them, they quickly become comfortable, which makes it easier for us to console and provide moral support.
“From my experience in humanitarian missions in Syria and Afghanistan, there were single mothers who felt uncomfortable meeting male activists.
“So we, the women, reached out to them, delivered aid, and provided assistance,” she said, sharing her experience of the Global Sumud Flotilla mission to Gaza in an interview with Bernama Radio recently.
Farah, who is the chief executive officer of Pertubuhan Kebajikan FL aka Childrity, said every participant is chosen for their expertise and capacity to contribute.
“I was selected because of my previous experience in humanitarian work and my ability to leverage social media. With a large follower base, I was able to help spread the mission’s message more widely,” she said.
“I have been active in international humanitarian missions since 2018, even when I was still a single mother. My husband understands and accepts that humanitarian work is part of my life.”
She stressed that her sharing of mission experiences is not meant for publicity, as some claim, but rather to give Malaysians a fuller understanding of the real suffering of the Palestinian people.
“By sharing, Malaysians can better grasp the hardships endured by the Palestinians, even if only a fraction of it. This is important to inspire greater awareness and collective support.
“As a mother, I also try to teach my daughter, Mariam, about empathy, courage, and compassion for global suffering,” she added.
‘I’ve brought her along on missions, such as to the Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, so that she can understand the importance of humanitarian work, and hopefully, become a volunteer herself one day.”
Learn more about Pertubuhan Kebajikan FL here and on Instagram.