Among other discoveries, I was able to visit the Workers Village in Mussafah yesterday. I personally experienced this and I am certain it is crucial to shed light on the lives of the people paving the way for our cities.
What is Workers Village?
Workers Village is a special congregational of the Mussafah area, Abu Dhabi. It is a home for many laborers of different nationalities who come to the UAE and help in the construction of Abu Dhabi city. These workers help build buildings, roads, and other important things in our city.
My First Impressions
The first thing that caught my eye was the overpopulation of slum like crowded compounds in Workers Village. These houses are where the workers live. The streets were usually lively with people walking around, talking, and engaged in other activities. It was familiar to me that this whole setting was like a small town anchored within the big city.
Meeting the People
I had the chance to make friends with some of the workers. They were all smiles and willing to take me through their versions of the process. I was told by many that their countries of origin consist of places like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh – the bulk of the workforce comprises them. They strive to support their families by working hard every day.
Daily Life in Workers’ Village
Workers never fail to make a point of being up and out before the sun rises. They clean up, take buses, and are on site to work. Few of them are building tall buildings or repairing roads, while the rest are doing production work in factories. After their hard day’s work, they return to the village tired but happy with their work.
Food and Shopping
Small kiosks and restaurants are found in Workers Village. The chance to grab a bite to eat from restaurants that serve their home country’s food is given to these workers. I could see shops where spices, rice, and other local items are sold. Besides that, there are small restaurants allowing them to eat a meal that they prepare at home.
Free Time Activities
As the day is almost over the leisure time, the workers are allowed to have the workers gathered to play cricket in the open fields. It is a game that is known and played in many of their home countries. Some workers sat together, talking and enjoying themselves, while others were calling their families in their home countries by using their phones.
Challenges They Face
One of the drawbacks of living far from home is the feeling of being alone. The workers miss their family members and are nostalgic about the places they grew up. The high summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi, which impediment their work efforts, demand even more of them. They, however, stay resilient and put in extra hours and sweat to have a better life both for themselves and their loved ones.
How They Stay Connected
I caught sight of many workers on their cell phones. They said they use these things to call and text their family members. Some workers explained to me that they send pictures of Abu Dhabi to their family members to show them what the city looks like. Digital communication gives them a sense of closeness, which is hard to do with distance.
Learning New Skills
The majority of the workers I talked to during my visit expressed that they learned new skills during their work time. They come across tools and machines they have never used before. Another set learned how to speak Arabic or English with the help of others. These are new skills that can open doors for them in the way of fewer jobs, whether in the UAE or back in their home countries.
The Importance of Workers’ Village
Workers Village is more than just a dwelling place. The area is supportive of workers because they all stand in one line, sharing the experience that newcomers frequently support each other and help them get the hang of everything. This support is very important for them, as well as this feeling of home.
How the City Helps
The city of Abu Dhabi makes constant efforts to guarantee that the life of the workers is under the best possible circumstances. There are some regulations that are created to make sure that they live in a good environment. Moreover, the city sets up health check-ups and creates a safety-first culture. All of these initiatives are aiming to the solving the health and safety problems of the staff.
Cultural Exchange
“Workers Village” is a fascinating place where the unity of various cultures is evident. I remember seeing people coming from different countries, living together, and sharing their traditions. They celebrate festivals from their home countries, and sometimes they invite their neighbors to join in. This creates a unique mix of cultures in one place.
Education Opportunities
The excitement of the staff and their willingness to work after the proper procedures and trials were some of the things I mostly enjoyed. While some workers can attend these classes to improve their skills in languages or learn other ones, others see it as an opportunity to upgrade their skills and increase their chances of employment in the future.
Health Services
A small clinic that I noticed in the Workers’ Villages, apart from the workers. There was an explanation that they can go there and get medical help if they feel sick or get hurt. It is always nice to know that, to some extent, they have the healthcare infrastructure at their home.
Transportation
Let us say, a lot of buses arrive and leave from the Workers’ Village. The departure of the buses from the village is the one that workers use to get to their places of work and back to the village. I could see that this makes it more convenient for them to get to work, even if it’s far from their homes.
Future Plans
While talking to workers, many revealed to me their dreams of the future. Some the earners wish to be good at saving money so that they could start a business in their own homeland. Others are dreaming of having a reunion with their loved ones in the United Arab Emirates. It was really great to hear the plans they had and later keep up with their progress.
Community Spirit
What fascinated me, though, was the great sense of people in the Workers Village being together. They are embodied by the fact that some of them are far from their home countries, while the workers are still looking out for each other. They share food, help newcomers adjust, and are always there for them in difficult times. This uniting spirit makes it like a big family in the Workers Village.
Conclusion
The visit to the Workers’ Village in Mussafah brought a whole new perspective to my understanding. I gained profound insights about the lives of the people who construct our city. Despite the fact that these hardworking people are faced with multiple challenges like loneliness and integration differences, they also master the skills of living and creating life without their natural homeland. Workers’ Village transcends the simple function of a dwelling place – it is a tribute to human resilience, cultural diversity, and the power of community. As I was walking away, I felt appreciation that I was given a way to see such an important area of Abu Dhabi and meet the people who live there.
