His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Chairman of the Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism in Crisis through the UAE volunteers campaign, presided over the committee’s meeting, which was held through the technique of “remote communication”.
The UAE volunteers campaign
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed the importance of diversifying the voluntary activities adopted by the national UAE volunteers campaign and focusing on the challenges facing the UAE community of citizens and residents of different nationalities and cultures, paving the way to reach all segments of society in various conditions and achieve a comprehensive development response that meets Requirements and needs of all societal groups.
His Highness directed to attract more volunteers and take into consideration their different nationalities and cultures, which reflects the society of the Emirates, explaining that the work of the Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises is primarily linked to the National Authority for Emergency and Crisis Management.
Abdullah bin Zayed directs to attract more volunteers
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pointed out the importance of benefiting from the experiences, challenges and lessons that the Emirates have gone through in a way that helps future generations to take into account that the system is always greater and the extent of future challenges in response to the directives of the leadership of the UAE, stressing the support and presence of His Highness and members Commission when needed.
UAE volunteers campaign Team
The campaign team presented the developments of the UAE volunteers campaign under the supervision of the Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises, in the presence of the committee members who are Minister of Community Development Hessa Bint Issa Buhamid, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, and Minister of State for Government and Future Development Ahoud Bint Khalfan Al-Roumi, Head of Abu Dhabi Community Development Department Dr. Mughir Khamis Al-Khaili, Head of Presidential Protocols at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs Muhammad Abdullah Al-Junaibi, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Abdullah bin Touq, and Director General of the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disasters, Obaid Al-Hoss Al Shamsi.
During the meeting, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Jaber reviewed the developments of the ADNOC Virtual Council, which presented 58 virtual sessions that were held until the end of last June under the umbrella of the UAE Volunteer campaign.
Ohoud Bint Khalfan Al-Roumi reviewed the “Psychological Support Line” initiative (800HOPE) launched by the National Program for Happiness and Quality of Life within the framework of the national campaign UAE Volunteer campaign within the community initiatives available to citizens and residents in the country, in order to provide psychological support services free of charge over the phone or via messages WhatsApp and under the supervision of a group of trained volunteers, doctors, consultants and psychologists, to ensure the provision of calligraphy services throughout the week from eight in the morning until eight in the evening in Arabic and English.
Since its launch on May 19, the Psychological Support Line has received more than 1000 calls from various groups of society. The initiative’s team consists of a group of volunteers and psychologists, all of whom are volunteers, while a new group of volunteers is being prepared to expand the initiative and cover the increasing communications received for the line, and to provide The necessary support for cases on an ongoing basis after many governments and community agencies expressed their desire to participate in the initiative.
Obaid Al Shams Al Shamsi also reviewed the developments of the UAE Volunteer campaign, whose initiatives are continuing under the supervision of the Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises. Since the campaign’s launch in early April 2020 to June 30 last “within 3 months”, the campaign managed to attract 21,847 volunteers and volunteers from 134 nationalities in The United Arab Emirates, of whom 6,980 are citizens and 14,867 residents in the country. Of these, 7,105 are volunteers who specialize in supporting doctors, nurses, and paramedics in the first line of defence to confront «COVID-19».
UAE Volunteer campaign number
The number of volunteer opportunities offered by the campaign to volunteers of different ages and nationalities reached 185 volunteer opportunities, 150 of which are field-based and 35 hypothetical.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan was keen during the meeting and in the presence of members of the committee to provide an opportunity for the participation of a group of volunteer national cadres who joined the campaign, as he became acquainted with the nature of the tasks they perform and their role in the field.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan appreciation
They thanked His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for providing this opportunity to them, expressing their pride in participating in the campaign and serving their country in these circumstances. They also praised the concerted efforts of all groups of society with them.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said during his speech to the volunteers, “In my name and all the members of the committee, I extend my sincere thanks to you for your great efforts, your time, your perseverance and your initiatives to join the campaign and work in these difficult circumstances.”
His Highness affirmed that every volunteer is proud of his role and what he offers in the campaign, adding, “As much as your family is proud of you, every resident and citizen in the Emirates is proud of you and all that you do.”
His Highness continued, “You present one of the noblest acts that anyone performs today towards their country, family and society … Words cannot thank you.”
The national UAE Volunteer campaign activities
The activities of the national UAE Volunteer campaign announced by the Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises had started in early April under the umbrella of the “UAE Volunteers” platform in partnership between the Ministry of Community Development and the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development and under the supervision of the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management.
In the framework of its vision to unify voluntary activities at the state level and to promote integration and cooperation between all governmental and private sectors and community participation within the context of affirming cohesion and cooperation in the UAE, and supporting national efforts to counter the spread of “COVID-19”.
The national UAE volunteers campaign aims
The national campaign aims to support volunteer efforts at the state level and harness the experiences, skills and talents of community members and involve them in the volunteer process through two types of volunteering, which are field and virtual, and within an integrated and sustainable system of volunteer work in the state during crises.
