Filipina Nurse Becomes Mama to Abandoned Children in UAE

For 49-year-old Marites Rufo, the most rewarding aspect of her career in the United Arab Emirates is hearing a child call her “mama.” A dedicated Filipina nurse, Rufo has spent years providing care for children without parental support, fostering connections that transcend the typical clinical relationship. For her, the word “mama” has carried a special meaning. “These small changes remind me that love and patience can make a big difference in a child’s life. She is grateful for the opportunities the UAE has given her and hopes to make a positive contribution to the communities she serves. Save for child, dh20m Big Ticket winner to repay loans. Ras Al Khaimah Police train officers in child safety. How Dubai set this Indian expat on his global career. British expat champions people and planet in the UAE.

Rufo began her journey in Dubai in 2009, initially working as a staff nurse in the paediatric isolation unit at Latifa Hospital.

After one year, her commitment and expertise earned her a promotion to unit nurse-in-charge, where she oversaw the care of orphaned children under the hospital’s guidance. She found fulfilment in caring for abandoned children and offering motherly comfort.

She describes her role as a calling, emphasizing that she views the children as her own family rather than mere patients. The children soon changed how she viewed her work, although she has initially worried that moving into a managerial role might limit her clinical experience.

Currently operating within the Family Village, which provides shelter and a foster-style environment for orphans or children with unknown parentage, Rufo balances technical healthcare with deep emotional support. Her responsibilities include monitoring health status and administering medication, yet she remains focused on nurturing the emotional well-being of every child in her care. Not only as a healthcare professional but also as a source of comfort and emotional support, it reflects the trust the children have placed in her and the role she has come to play in their lives. Helping address the loss of parental and family care, the model provides foster mothers for children and foster fathers for young adults. The village gives comprehensive support, including living expenses, social support, financial assistance, education, and rehabilitation, helping residents build a more stable future, beyond shelter. “I stayed focused on my goals and continuously reminded myself that every sacrifice was for my children and for our future.”. “Remember why you chose to work abroad, whether it is for your family, your dreams, or a better future. She is reminded of the bond they have built and the responsibility she carries beyond her nursing duties, each time a child calls her by that name. But she can offer them a caring presence, a patient heart, and the reassurance that they are not alone, she may not be able to take away every hardship the children have faced.

Professional and Personal Milestones

• Career Start: Joined Latifa Hospital in 2009 as a paediatric staff nurse.
• Current Role: Manages health and safety for children at the Family Village.
• Motivation: Believes her position allows her to show love and compassion to vulnerable children.
• Resilience Factors: Draws strength from her faith, perseverance, and support from family and colleagues.
• Regional Gratitude: Credits the UAE for providing opportunities to serve others and achieve personal goals.
• Family Support: Successfully enabled her eldest son to join her in the UAE while supporting her other child through college in the Philippines.
• Community Outreach: Operates a feeding programme in her hometown in the Philippines to assist children in need.
• Expert Advice: Encourages fellow expatriates to stay focused on their life goals during times of hardship.

The path to her current success was built on early determination. Growing up in a struggling family in Capiz, Philippines, with a disabled father, Rufo worked as a student to fund her nursing education over four years. This background fuels her empathy for other overseas Filipino workers who face financial pressure and the emotional strain of long-term separation from their families. She has worked as a household helper to pay for her studies and help support her family, while pursuing her nursing degree at university. UAE father must support daughter, 37, and other cases. What growing up in UAE taught a Filipino about identity.

Rufo, a single mother herself, acknowledges that leaving her children behind to work abroad was profoundly difficult.

Despite the pain of distance, she kept her focus on providing a secure future for her family.

She believes that even minor acts of kindness can generate significant impact, a philosophy she applies both in her medical work and in her humanitarian efforts back in the Philippines.

After 17 years of residency in the UAE, Rufo continues to advocate for resilience among her peers.

She views her challenges as essential to building character and encourages others to let their primary purpose serve as a guide when facing adversity.

For Rufo, every moment spent as a “mama” to these children confirms that she is exactly where she is meant to be, serving with compassion and grace.

Important Details

• Gradually, she has also learned to embrace her position by focusing on the children’s needs and remembering why she had chosen nursing.
• “Their vulnerability and innocence inspired me to give my best every day.”.