Laxmi Parekh has dedicated the past two years to conducting mental health workshops for migrant workers in Dubai. Recently, she has integrated discussions on the regional conflict within her sessions.
On a Sunday morning, Parekh addressed an audience in a cafeteria, part of a housing compound in Dubai. Her listeners included painters, carpenters, and electricians. The topic of the day’s discussion was stress management.
“Who knows what’s been going on here for the past 43 days?” Parekh asked. Someone in the crowd responded, “War situation.”
Since February 28, the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has resulted in increased missile and drone attacks from Iran on the United Arab Emirates. These attacks have claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians and injured 230 people, according to the U.A.E. defense ministry. Many victims were migrant workers who constitute a significant portion of the audience Parekh addressed.
Parekh leads her workshops in blue-collar migrant communities throughout Dubai. Her involvement with SmartLife, a nonprofit organization, goes beyond these workshops. It includes organizing English lessons, mentorship programs, and game nights. Funding comes largely from the workers’ employers and money transfer firms that process their earnings.
In March, with the conflict escalating, Parekh shifted her sessions to address these developments specifically. “How many of you are scared?” she inquired in front of approximately 40 men from countries like India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
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