Busy Week Included Home Renovation and Exchange Programme
'Symbol of Growing Social and Cultural Links'
Abu Dhabi, July 5, 2009 - A delegation from the UAE's Takatof Social Volunteer Programme participated for the first time at the United States' annual National Conference for Volunteering and Social Services, held last week in San Francisco and inaugurated by the first lady of America Michelle Obama.
The Conference focused on key issues of volunteering and social services, The UAE group attended specialist workshops studying the ethics of volunteer work as well as negative and positive factors affecting its success in society.
Earlier the delegation - a group of Emirati young leaders -took part in a practical house reconstruction project near Washington, DC. The American charity 'Habitat for Humanity' (HFH) invited Takatof Programme Director Maytha Al Habsi and her Emirati colleagues to participate in a day of construction work on a suburban home, which was being renovated for a family in need.
The delegation of young Emiratis was part of a larger US-Emirati exchange programme supported by the Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Office and the UAE Embassy in the USA.
Maytha Al Habsi said that the purpose of the visit was to exchange knowledge and experiences, as well as to learn best practices in managing different volunteering operations and community services.
She added: "The visit was a symbol of growing social and cultural links and we believe that it enhanced the knowledge of young Americans about the Middle East and Arab culture. We look forward to establishing long term relationships with reputed organizations there, as a way of further enhancing ties between the UAE and the USA."
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© Press Release 2009
