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20 Dar Zayed orphans to do voluntary work
Twenty students from Dar Zayed will be the first group of orphans and minors to take part in the voluntary programme Takatof, according to senior officials.
- By Eman Mohammed Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
- Published: 00:01 September 15, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Twenty students from Dar Zayed will be the first group of orphans and minors to take part in the voluntary programme Takatof, according to senior officials.
To implement that a memorandum of understanding was signed on Sunday in Abu Dhabi between Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors Affairs and Takatof, a programme of Emirates Foundation.
Saud Al Gamzi, Director-General of Dar Zayed, said in a press conference after signing the MoU, "The MoU aims to encourage nationals to take part in voluntary work and community service".
"Initially 20 orphans aged between 16 and 17 years will participate in a two-part programme to prepare them for voluntary work - the first will involve a psychiatrist and the second will help them prepare for voluntary jobs".
Three hundred and eighty-eight students are benefitting from Dar Zayed services and care; orphans are provided housing, support, education, healthcare and recruitment when they they are of employable age. Dar Zayed is located at Al Khazna (near Al Ain) and was established by late Shaikh Zayed to provide shelter and care for Emirati orphan children.
Maitha Al Habsi, Director of Takatof, said, "It's a great opportunity to build relations between both organisations to support the culture of voluntary work in the community, especially during Ramadan."
Takatof is one of Emirates Foundation's initiatives for voluntary works started a year and a half ago and includes more than 5,000 Emirati volunteers, according to Maitha, who take part in organising events and activities all over the UAE.
Emirates Foundation is a nationwide philanthropic organisation established in 2005 by the government of Abu Dhabi to facilitate new public-private initiatives for social betterment.
"Takatof has already accomplished similar programmes in four hospitals in Abu Dhabi, said Maitha adding, "They help take care of patients especially the aged and children lingering in hospitals."
Also they help maintain schools, collect donations, maintain plantations and help organise events.
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