Dubai: A total of 1,400 charity initiatives will be launched across the country throughout the Year of Giving, it was announced on Monday.
A high-level committee for the Year of Giving announced that various initiatives are being launched by each of the seven emirates and will target all segments of the UAE society.
Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the Future, said that a total of 1,400 nationwide initiatives which will involve all members of the community will be dedicated to the UAE martyrs, who sacrificed their lives while performing their national duty.
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had earlier announced that the Year of Giving was dedicated to the UAE martyrs in memory of their heroic stands and in appreciation of their sacrifices.
“We are starting a new stage of giving in the UAE,” said Al Gergawi at a conference which saw officials from each emirate announce their own local initiatives for the Year of Giving. “The seed of giving was first planted by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on the land of the UAE, and now we see it in every emirate.”
He added that the UAE is a nation that was built on goodness, love and giving. “The citizens of the UAE and residents love goodness, we were raised based on these values,” he said. “What is most important today is that we dedicate all these charitable initiatives to the martyrs of the UAE, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our dear homeland.”
Shaikh Khalifa Bin Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, Director of The Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, said that initiatives and programmes being launched continue UAE’s journey in humanitarian work.
“The programmes and initiatives to be launched by the local government of each of the seven emirates represents a turn in UAE’s history and its journey in humanitarian work because it reflects the good relationship among those in society and between the people and the leaders,” he said.
He also added that the Year of Giving was an opportunity to honour the sacrifices made by the martyrs.
Officials, each representing one emirate, spoke about some of the main initiatives and programmes their emirate would be launching. The initiatives covered all segments of the UAE community, including the elderly, youth, people with special needs, low-income workers, and many more.
Abu Dhabi announced that it would be having a total of 247 initiatives which will mainly focus on volunteering work and spreading the culture of volunteering among people.
1. Awareness campaign to spread the culture of volunteerism in Abu Dhabi
2. Initiative to support different segments in society who need social support, including the elderly, orphans and people with special needs.
3. Initiative with an aim to promote good citizenship among youth and instill the values of social responsibility.
4. Media campaign to highlight initiatives of Year of Giving in Abu Dhabi and spread awareness on social responsibility and serving the nation.
Dubai will be launching 375 initiatives in partnership with both the private and government sector.
1. Dubai Health Authority Initiative to help patients who cannot afford to pay for their medication. The initiative will cover 3,000 patients at a cost of Dh265 million.
2. Public Prosecution initiative to help resolve family cases and offer child protection.
3. Initiative aimed at developing social responsibility in Dubai, which will include measuring the CSR of companies in the emirate.
4. Programme to offer free legal consultations to 1,000 people. The initiative will cost around Dh3 million dirhams and will be carried out in partnership with 81 law firms in Dubai.
Sharjah announced 56 initiatives.
1. Volunteer Initiative to help needy families in the maintenance and restoration of their old homes.
2. Forum to be organised on volunteering and charitable work. It will attract the most prominent figures in the voluntary and charitable work from the UAE and the Arab world and will have them share their experience and expertise in this area.
3. A special exhibition to be organised where products and goods made by families and industrial companies will be sold. Proceeds will go towards charity.
Ajman announced 113 initiatives.
1. Initiative to help volunteers from the community and government departments provide a number of services for the elderly.
2. Course on social responsibility to be offered for government employees and students of Ajman University.
3. Initiative to help needy students pay for their tuition fees.
4. Initiative to develop a policy for green economic activities to attract investments while taking into account the principles of environmental sustainability and community development.
5. Ajman Prize for social responsibility to be organised by Ajman Centre for social responsibility.
Ras Al Khaimah will have a total of 337 initiatives:
1. Initiative which will see residential plots distributed in less than three months to Emirati families to achieve their social and psychological stability.
2. Establishing a day clinic for mental health for patients and offering a course in tailoring for female inmates.
3. Distributing recycled furniture from hotels to needy families.
4. Organising a charity festival with the participation of 1,000 organisations who will be offering free and discounted products for low-income people.
5. Launching “Social Excellence” award to recognise and honour outstanding efforts in giving and serving the nation.
Umm Al Quwain announced 90 initiatives:
1. Volunteer programme for the youth. Volunteers will visit elderly people and patients at hospitals.
2. Initiative to serve people with special needs and the elderly. Volunteers will take the elderly to recreational facilities such as parks and shopping centres.
3. Initiative to support youth businesses and another programme which will help arrange free Umrah trips for low-income workers and needy people.
Al Fujairah announced 188 initiatives:
1. Organising environmental campaign with the help of student volunteers from universities. The campaign will include several activities such as cleaning parks, beaches and planting trees.
2. Social media initiative to commemorate the sacrifices of the martyrs of the UAE initiative.
3. Initiative to pay the tuition fees for needy students.
4. Organising volunteer programme in Fujairah for government employees.
