With temperatures on the rise, even animals seek shelter from the scorching heat. For some young Arab boys, this is not possible since they have to make a living. Heat or no heat, they have no choice but to clean the windshields of cars to earn money.

They do this to avoid begging although they are under the legal age to work.

Mohammed Ali Yamani, a Yemeni, told Arab News that he works day and night and earns between SR 50 to SR 100 every day by cleaning the windshields of cars when they stop at traffic signals.

He said that many drivers don’t allow them to touch their cars.

“We see in English movies that boys like us in western countries do the same work and get a lot of money. We are trying to earn some income, which is better than begging,” he said.

He said that they do not charge a fixed amount. “Sometimes, they give us just SR 2 to SR 3 and some give us more. Often if we clean the windshield without the driver’s permission, they don’t pay us,” he added.

These boys don’t use special windshield liquid but normal liquid soap, which costs very little.

Some motorists said that it is dangerous for them to be moving between car lanes amid traffic that can move sporadically.

“It is dangerous. In addition, the soap they use is not good for the car windshield, as it leave stains, but at least they are not begging, which is good,” said one driver.