“Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray,” reads a curio at social activist Salma Bala’s residence and the angel of compassion abides by those words of wisdom.

The first impression one gets when meeting Salma Bala is of a woman probably enjoying retirement. From her looks, you’d think she’s the type who tends a garden or imagine her perched on a rocking chair with a crotchet needle and thread in hand.

Quite to the contrary, Salma is a bundle of energy and infectious enthusiasm, always on the move. She defies age by immersing herself in an extraordinary movement she champions, called Helping Hands, which includes lending Bahrain’s Asian labour force a listening ear and said helping hand.

Helping Hands is a window or vent, as Salma describes it, meant to succour migrant labourers from distressing situations. As the name suggests its modus operandi is simple. It consists of hands of philanthropists and volunteers in Bahrain who dare to care. “Anyone who wants to do his or her own bit of noble deed to society is a ‘Helping Hand.’

Helping Hands is not bound to any written contract or restricted to nationalities. Volunteers who contribute in any shape or form become an extension of the Helping Hands movement,” said Salma, the iron willed pioneer of the movement. “Aimed at labourers we are always on the move, reaching out to those who need help,” she added.

How it started
Coming from the Indian state of Hyderabad, Salma stepped on the island in 1979, when Bahrain’s growth was still in its infancy. Energetic as she is, she delineates how eager she was to be of service to the kingdom.

The campaign kicked off in just two weeks after her arrival on the island, when Salma was looking for an opportunity to do something charitable for Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday.

Being new to the country she decided to visit patients in the hospital and spread good cheer. Along with her husband, the duo visited labourers at Salmaniya hospital plagued by sickness and injuries. “They had tears of joy as someone other than family or friends came to visit them. It was a very touching moment in my life. After brief exchanges, I told them I was approachable if they needed any help,” she reminisced.

Shortly thereafter, an Indian labourer with a broken leg who had no means to return to his country called on Salma for help. She and her husband unhesitatingly sponsored his ticket home, making her an instant angel of compassion and setting the ball rolling for Helping Hands.

Unlike modern day embassies, Salma recollects that back in her early days on the island diplomatic missions lacked resources. Labourers requiring help with immigration services, sponsors or employment related issues had no proper outlet to seek practical solutions. This is when Salma came into the picture.

What started as helping a few desperate labourers grew as Salma firmly advocated their rights in the press.

She utilised the media as a powerful tool to appeal for help including asking for voluntary support. “As the labour force in the country doubled, so did the issues. I couldn’t manage it myself and sought help. Today I’m grateful to every hand that volunteers,” she said.