Jean Winter, a Singaporean businesswoman based in Dubai, is actively aiding those displaced by the Gaza conflict. As the founder and CEO of Touch Dubai, an inclusive talent management agency, Jean recently traveled to Egypt to assist Gazans who have fled their homes.
During her visit, Jean provided rent and food support and mentored women with their business ideas. She also created online job opportunities for impoverished Gazans in Egypt. Her Egyptian friend Fatima, based in Dubai, hosted her and facilitated connections with local communities. Jean encountered several displaced families struggling for basic necessities. “I met one family of six who did not even have money to buy detergent to wash off the sand in their completely empty accommodation,” she told Khaleej Times. Jean helped furnish their accommodation with essentials and a stove. “I also ensured they had a month’s worth of food before I left,” she said. In her role as a CSR consultant and philanthropist, Jean has employed three individuals displaced from Gaza to assist with her ongoing relief efforts.
“Instead of just giving them handouts to help with rent for their family of 12, I employed three siblings, Nour, Hashem, and Ali, to work for my company from Egypt,” she said. “I asked them to be my eyes and ears on the ground, to follow up on the families I helped on this trip, to meet more displaced Gazan families that need help, and to create a database to find other emergency cases. It is important to create a sustainable form of support by creating a system of empowerment, not dependency.”
Forming Partnerships
Jean has been diligent in forming sustainable partnerships. Through her agency, she partnered with ETA, the primary clean water supplier in North and South Gaza, to deliver water directly to the people in Gaza.
“Many different donors are asked for varying amounts of donations for vital necessities like water,” she said. “I was initially asked to sponsor approximately Dh3,600 for every 10,000 liters into Gaza. By sheer luck, a friend knew the owner of ETA, Abdul Salam Yaseen, and I decided to ask to meet him. In that meeting, I learned that 10,000 liters of clean water should only cost approximately Dh1,800 instead of the Dh3,600 I quoted. That was when I realized that many commissions were made in between, which disappointed me.”
To eliminate middlemen and ensure transparency, Jean negotiated a partnership to secure water at a flat rate of approximately Dh3.6 for every 20 liters. Touch Dubai will supply this water to camps and displaced communities not covered by NGOs. “The first batch of 30,000 liters of water was delivered to four camps, reaching nearly 15,000 people,” she said. “Discussions for the next camps are underway now.”
Hard Work
Jean described the toll of the conflict on her. “I have many Palestinian friends who lost their families and relatives, and I also have a close friend from Gaza whose family was displaced in Egypt,” Jean said. Jean said, “I am a mother, a wife, a sister, and a friend. I could not just stand by and watch silently. I knew that I had to do something to help them.”
She highlighted the dire situation of Gazans in Egypt. “They are all classified as illegal immigrants and cannot work without any proper documentation,” she said. “Everyone among them, is struggling to survive with no security for food or rent. They live day to day. We saw malnourished babies, single mothers with young children trying to survive, and multiple big families living in difficult conditions. My team created a criteria and priority list where we focus on families most desperately in need.”
Many NGOs, grassroots groups, corporations, and charities are helping Gazans. However, Jean said their needs are massive compared to the available aid.“Egypt has been stretched very thin,” she said. The host countries face their own social issues. They struggle to handle the influx of refugees. Sudan and Palestine are among the countries these refugees come from.
She pointed out a lack of communication and transparency among many organizations on the ground. “Many grassroots organizations are working in an ad hoc manner, which leads to sporadic availability of aid,” she said. Few organizations work together smoothly. They all want to help, but their efforts aren’t well-coordinated.
Ready to Help
Relief work is not new for Jean, who has supported various communities worldwide. She helped refugees during the Syrian War in 2016. She also built water filtration systems in Cambodia. Jean partnered with local groups in many countries for these projects. However, she advises potential donors to be diligent. Donors should do thorough research. They must ensure their donations reach the right people, she said.
