UAE volunteers build school for children

11 nationalities and various professional backgrounds, were selected by Dubai Cares, part of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, to form the volunteering group for the second edition of the ‘Volunteer Globally 2019’ initiative.

From November 23 to 30, the volunteers joined the local community to set the foundation for a new communitybased school that will benefit 60 children (with 50 per cent female enrolment) and 60 illiterate adults directly, as well as 300 adults from the community indirectly.

The school construction was sponsored by Maersk-Kanoo, one of the largest container ship and supply vessel operators in the world.

Beyond participating in the construction activities, the volunteers had the opportunity to interact with the local community for a week.

Sense of accomplishment

Leading the volunteer group, Abdullah Ahmad Al Shehi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Cares, said: “With every edition of ‘Volunteer Globally’, our sense of accomplishment — both in terms of our impact on the community as well as volunteer engagement — grows. All the volunteers who have joined us in this edition, as well as previous ones, return back to Dubai with a fresh perspective on life and a new understanding of their place in the world.”

Mohammad Ali Bin Ailan Al Shamsi, Charge d’Affaires a.i at the UAE Embassy in Dakar, said: “The UAE Embassy highly appreciates Dubai Cares’ outstanding efforts in Senegal. Dubai Cares is one of the leading UAE philanthropic organisations.”