RABAT, Aug. 2nd, 2009: The Emirates Foundation Takatof program launched its first voluntary activity in Morocco by visiting Akkari Orphanage in Rabat with the participation of 20 volunteers from Takatof along with 10 Moroccan volunteers.

The voluntary team, led by Takatof Director Mayhta Al Habsi, looked into various facilities of the charity and its humanitarian efforts to provide better services to the orphans.

The Emirates Foundation Communication Senior Coordinator and in charge of Takatof program in Morocco, Iman Al Hag, made a statement at the outset of the visit in which she expressed deep thanks and appreciation to officials in Rabat province for facilitating the visit.

She also gave an account on Takatof Programs mission which is based on the principles of volunteering values of community services particularly for the needy groups. This mission is inspired by the vision of Lt General HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, she said.

During the visit, Takatof volunteers organized entertainment and cultural programs for the children to engage them in a friendly and lovely atmosphere which encouraged them to interact actively and reveal their potential talents. A number of art workshops and cultural competitions were supervised by Takatof volunteers during which the children were very responsive and produced excellent drawings and paintings.

The Moroccan children voiced their deep thank and appreciation to Takatof program and the Emirates Foundation for their continuous care about poor and impoverished children in Morocco.

Close interaction and cooperation between the Emirate and Moroccan volunteers from the first day of Takatof program in Morocco gave clear indication on the closest brotherly ties linking the UAE with the Kingdom of Morocco.

Takatof volunteers reviewed chapters of the UAE history and heritage and distributed presents to the children in a way that impressed officials at the charity who expressed their hope for such a visit to be repeated.

In another noble gesture, the volunteers hosted a lunch for the children who were exalted with joy and happiness over this humanitarian initiative which strengthen bridges of contacts between the children and the volunteers.

Later on the day, Takatof volunteers made another visit to the Children Society in the town of Sala which runs Raed Initiative, a project which trains poor children on circus arts acrobats. The project was highly appreciated by several international organizations for its marked success in transforming children to be productive members in their local communities.

Director of the society Ashhad al-Moumi welcomed Takatof team and hoped for greater cooperation between the society and the program. He also briefed the volunteers on the societys plans and objectives.

On her part Al Hag made a briefing on Takatof as one of Emirates Foundation strategic programme and thanked the Moroccan society for being very cooperative to make this visit possible.

Takatof volunteers held cultural and art activities full of fun and amusement to please the children who also thanked Takatof for this humanitarian initiative. They said this is the first time an Arab and Gulf delegation visit their society in show of humanitarian solidarity with their Arab brothers. This is very important and hopefully it would be repeated, they said.

This is the second time Takatof launched a voluntary project in Morocco carried out in cooperation with UAE Embassy in Rabat, the Moroccan Ministries of Youth and Sports and National Education, King Mohammad VI Foundation for Environment Protection and a number of civil society organizations in Morocco and the participation of Moroccan volunteers.

Through the establishment of a sustainable public-private partnership, the Emirates Foundation seeks to continually benefit the United Arab Emirates by developing and supporting community-based initiatives.

Takatof is a voluntary social program, designed by the Emirates Foundation to create a culture of volunteering throughout the UAE. Takatof mobilises people and resources across the nation and offers young people an opportunity to volunteer for humanitarian, social and community programs that serve those least able to help themselves.

Inspired by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and under the leadership of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Board, the Emirates Foundation finances projects that stimulate intellectual and social growth, increase access to cultural, educational and technological resources, contribute to environmental protection, and foster increased participation in civic life.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.