du to set up internet portal for UAE NGOs

Dubai: Telecom operator du will set up a comprehensive web portal for all non-government organisations (NGOs) in the UAE, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Besides acting as a comprehensive source of factual information on all the NGOs in the UAE, the web portal will showcase the work of each organisation.

It will also facilitate volunteering in the UAE by presenting all the available opportunities on one platform.

Community-building

Osman Sultan, CEO, du, said: "By creating an interactive web portal for the ministry, we will enable the NGOs to communicate effectively and support nation-building efforts and community building."

Amnah Al Nakhi, director of corporate social responsibility and corporate communication, told Gulf News, "We're trying to be very strategic with our involvement in the community by making our services available where see the need for them."

"There is no light shed on NGOs, and this is our way of doing something for the UAE. Very few NGOs have websites, and those that do, are outdated," Al Nakhi said.

Al Nakhi said the initiative will benefit the whole UAE community.

"NGOs and voluntarism is not even common as a definition in UAE, it's still at a very immature stage."

She said that a communication hub will emerge under one umbrella for NGOs.

A soft launch of the web portal - open to all national NGOs - will take place at the end of this year, officials said at a press gathering.

Abdullah Rashid Al Suwaidi, director-general in the Ministry of Social Affairs, said: "There was a long-felt need to create an integrated platform for all NGOs in the country and foster volunteerism."