Dubai" Working to empower women and families is the main point of Federal National Council candidate Rashid Mattar Al Jaberi's agenda, because it is the first step towards a happy and healthy society and the foundationstone of a strong nation.
Al Jaberi, a 35-year-old businessman, is basing his campaign on issues related to family welfare such as health, education and women's rights.
"I believe that women should be able to work while having children and raising them, and to achieve this they need to have good nurseries at the workplace so that they can breastfeed their babies in a peaceful environment and return to work without having to face the choice between work and family," Al Jaberi said.
The UAE had a strong heritage and national identity which was put at risk when people stopped passing it on to their children, according to Al Jaberi.
"The beginning of a successful life starts at home, not when the child is sent to school at the age of four, but from the day a child is born, and this is the main point I would like to convey," he said. Women who breastfeed their children give them better chances in life as they grow up healthier and full of affection and mercy, he said. "But what we see now is people leaving their children at home with nannies to go to work, or letting their children play out on the street without supervision."
Speaking up
Al Jaberi said he considers himself a winner whether he is elected or not, for getting a chance to speak up about his concerns. He would like to win the FNC vote to provide a voice for the concerns of every citizen.
"FNC membership is not about prestige, money or power. It is about being the people's voice and raising their issues at the highest levels," he added.
Al Jaberi's plan if he becomes an FNC member is to cooperate with federal bodies and ministries to help overcome shortages and allow them to do a better job in educating people, implementing healthcare programmes and spreading social awareness, especially concerning national identity. "We do not want to become FNC members to criticise but to educate, communicate and assist in making development programmes," he said.
FNC elections will be held on September 24.
