Volunteering has been and will always be part of the local identity of the United Arab Emirates culture, and it is not a new culture trend in the United Arab Emirates as some believe, if we look way back, before the Union of the 7 emirates in 1971, each members of the community across the UAE proactivity used to give a hand to help and support each other.
For example If someone from the community needed assistance in constructing and extension to his house the community will come together in building that new unit, let us say a young man in the community wanted to get married the community will support him by collecting some money for the wedding dowry (to be given to the girls family), and assist him in organizing the wedding ceremony. these are just few examples how the community used to then.
If we look at the United Arab Emirates modern history, our founding father, late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may his souls rest in peace), gave great importance for voluntary work in the United Arab Emirates. Shaikh Zayed believed that volunteering is an important tool to strength the relationship between members of the community in the UAE and the UAE relationship with other nation across the international community.
I still recollect in my memories, the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 when our Founding Father Late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan asked the nation to volunteer to be part the military force to liberate Kuwait for the Iraqi invasion. The outcome of the call was awesome! Every Emeriti wanted to take part, young or old, rich or poor, not because of any anticipated gain, but because it was to show their support to its wise leadership and it was the best kind of voluntary and humanitarian aids.
Zayed Giving Initiative is a unique model of humanitarian work, and it provides services locally and on international level. since its inception in 2003, the initiative has made various contributions in health, education, environment and culture. Over the period of time, the initiative has attracted many volunteers to reach out to more than 100 million people in the Arab World and African countries who benefited from its various voluntary and humanitarian aids.
Voluntary work could be of different causes, could be involving various fields of interest, time spent responding to the needs of the community, individual, the elderly, orphans, people impaired with special needs, the poor and the victims of nature etc.
Providing a helping hand and support a community is as vital as knowing how to care and to nourish on innate creativity!
As a result, it is not surprising to see, we have many organizations in the United Arab Emirates, offering opportunities to individuals who are interested in voluntary jobs, where they can unleash their potentials, skills, interests and areas of specializations too.
Take for instance, Takatof Social Voluntary Program is a social voluntary program, launched by the Emirates Foundation in the year 2007. Its main function is to create a culture of volunteering across the country. It offers opportunities to volunteer in humanitarian, social and community programs.
The whole idea of the voluntary activities is to bring people and government together in the shared goal for making our country a place where people engage in public interest, and move on building charitable work within our community.
It does not have to be a remarkable contribution; it could just be to support the sick by simply being at his or her bed side. It could be visiting an elderly in the care unit. It could be to promote art, cultural and heritage, it could even be to inspire the young ones with what they envy most!
Being able to assist and give aid those who need most and to light their faces with rays of hope is as rewarding as achieving ones goals in life!
It gives me great pleasure to state that I worked with Takatof during the F1 and FIFA World Club Cup events. It was an exceptional experience to be able to guide and manage all those young ones in how to take care of their responsibilities. Indeed it was very encouraging the end of the day, to see that the event went smoothly without any obstacles and everybody was happy. This mission was accomplished as it should have been. Work well done, and were did a great job in representing the UAE culture, tradition, customs and hospitality, for the visitors who came all over the globe.
I personal gained new set of skills that played an important role in enhancing my career, I have discovered the hero within, new friendship that are profound for the rest of my life and the most important how I could play an important role in being a role model for the upcoming UAE young generation
Across United Arab Emirates, there are individuals who are committed and devoted volunteers who are contributing and adding positive impact to the Community privately on their own.
From a personal note, It is worth mentioning the recent Awards – The Abu Dhabi Awards where HH Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE said that the Abu Dhabi Awards is an embodiment of the great traditions instilled by the Late Shsikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and followed on his path and principles by the President, HH Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for noble humanitarian values to prevail.
HH Shaikh Mohammed also added that the personalities are honored for their genuine values and high principles known to exemplify the United Arab Emirates Community. These traits still live many in UAE nationals, thus they deserve to be thanked for their efforts and time dedicated to the benefit of the country.
Among those awarded was Mr. Salem Rashed Saeed Al Mohanadi continuously finds ways to help the needy across the community.
In short whatever good we do there in a reward from God to us, and in many cases these good deeds do not pass un-noticed or un-recognized by our great leaders.
I am sure I will not be out-place to say I am very proud to be an Emarati, and very thankful and grateful to our Leaders, we would not have reached this far if it’s not for them and their wise leadership.
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