Follows previous successful collaboration on the National Volunteers Platform (Volunteers.ae)
Dubai – The Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) has signed an agreement to expand its partnership and cooperation with Emirates Foundation.
The new arrangement comes on the heels of the great success of their previous joint project: The National Volunteers Platform (Volunteers.ae), a comprehensive, all-inclusive database of all volunteers and volunteering opportunities in the UAE, and the first of its kind in the country.
The Ministry is looking to strengthen joint working relations with Emirates Foundation, foster a more extensive exchange of expertise to launch effective initiatives and projects that will promote volunteer work and achieve the strategic objectives of both parties.
“The agreement to expand our partnership with the Emirates Foundation is a continuation of the outstanding success we’ve had with the National Volunteering Platform,” said Her Excellency Sana Suhail, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Development. “It sets the foundation for continuous coordination between our two institutions with regards to community and volunteer work. This partnership aligns with the UAE Government’s directives to prioritise the happiness and wellbeing of the people – the ‘real wealth of society’ – and foster cooperation between governmental and non-governmental institutions to realise these goals.”
“With this agreement,” the Undersecretary continued, “the Ministry of Community Development seeks to develop community work by upgrading community services and promoting social investment in programmes that address the challenges facing young Emiratis who actively look for volunteer and social work.”
Through the expanded partnership with Emirates Foundation, the Ministry of Community Development aims to develop innovative community-oriented initiatives and to further roll out the several existing programmes across the nation.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties will work together to achieve the common objectives of promoting volunteer work and helping young Emiratis and the UAE’s future generations to expand their skills and acquire first-hand knowledge and experience. Both organisations also doubled down on their commitment to the National Volunteers Platform.
“The expansion of the partnership with the Ministry of Community Development offers a significant boost to the efforts of both the Ministry and Emirates Foundation – efforts that, in the past, resulted in the launch of the largest national smart platform for volunteer work,” said Maytha Al Habsi, Deputy CEO of Emirates Foundation, urging all private and public institutions to join the platform and help realise the vision of the UAE’s leadership to involve the youth in social development.
“We are taking serious steps to strengthen public-private partnerships,” Al Habsi added. “We are looking to foster a culture of true social responsibility, to involve the community in the development projects, and to address the societal challenges that face them. We offer them customised volunteer opportunities to develop their skills, which, in turn, helps us take volunteer work in the UAE to a new level with sustainable impact and long-term results.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, had launched the National Volunteers Platform (Volunteers.ae) in late May 2017, when he personally registered as an environmental volunteer. The platform saw great interaction from cabinet members, all of whom registered as volunteers in the hopes of encouraging the wider community to follow suit.
Developed by Emirates Foundation in collaboration with the MoCD, the platform can now count more than 90,000 registered volunteers among its members, and offers more than 300 volunteer opportunities in education, care for the elderly, health, culture, arts and sports, entertainment, the environment, community service, professional development, international volunteering, and emergency response to cases involving people of determination (people with disabilities).
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© Press Release 2017
