Social centres badly need more volunteers

A critical report on Social Development Centres has highlighted the need for the centres to encourage more people to volunteer for social work. The report also said that the country's 11 centres lacked private transport and their premises were both old and rented, which has prevented expansion to be able to provide better services.

The report, by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, said the centres provide the most basic facilities to the communities they serve, mainly distributing social security pensions. However, the report praised the fact that more UAE nationals are now benefiting from the services, which have increased from 17,000 in 1998 to 18,224 in 1999.

According to statistics compiled by the ministry, Ras Al Khaimah Social Development Centre serves the largest number of UAE nationals, reaching 3,742, followed by Ajman which serves 1,908 and Julfar with 1,852, while Dibba serves 1,835 and Dubai has given social help to 1,802.

In the 11 centres there are only 96 employees and 565 social workers who conducted 744 home visits to families, which is less than the number of personnel required to help more families.

The main aim of establishing the centres was to improve the living standards of families by increasing their health and religious awareness, and to try to eliminate illiteracy among men and women, enabling them to get jobs so they can provide for themselves instead of living on pensions.

The report showed that the target was not completely achieved due to the limited number of people involved in the computer and English language courses conducted by the centres.

More focus and funds need to be provided to the activities of the centres as suggested by the report, which found that there was a great success in the traditional activities organised by the centres through which 152 women produced 9,004 pieces of traditional handicrafts which were sold in exhibitions.

The report has also stated that the nurseries which are opened in the Social Development Centres can be utilised better if they encourage families to send their children.

There are only 59 children taken care of in the nurseries at the centres which have professional day care nannies and accept new born infants to children aged four. This service was made to help working mothers and those who cannot afford maids or babysitters.