Youths asked to step up, volunteer

dubai — The latest figures from Dubai show that volunteering rates in the emirate stand at just 3.6 per cent. But a new policy is set to raise that figure to 20 per cent by 2020 — and students are being urged to step forward to fulfill this vision.

Ahmad Abdul Kareem Julfar, Director General of the Community Development Authority (CDA), said the data shows that just 27 per cent of the Dubai community are aware that volunteering opportunities exist, explaining the low participation rates here.

But with 28 per cent of the population made up of 15 to 30-yearolds, schools and universities should promote volunteerism as part of the curriculum to raise awareness. “Volunteering should not be forced, but we want to encourage schools to make volunteering hours part of the student graduation process.”

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Julfar said the upcoming Expo 2020 is the perfect platform for people of all ages to volunteer — especially the youth. “It is estimated that the UAE needs around 30,000 volunteers during this six month period, so we are working to provide those. The purpose is to engage the whole community in this event.”

Julfar was talking during an announcement

It is estimated that the UAE needs around 30,000 volunteers during this six month period (of Expo 2020), so we are working to provide those.” Ahmad Abdul Kareem Julfar, Director General of the Community Development Authority

outlining the details of the ‘Volunteering and Community Service Associated to Education’s Policy’, recently adopted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

With a current “lack of legislation to define volunteering and types of volunteers”, this policy allows integration and comprehensive efforts to diversify the practice in Dubai and others emirates.

At present, he said volunteer rates in Dubai are low compared to countries with best practices in volunteering, and that is mainly due to the “lack of national strategy” to promote it.

But the 260,000 students in Dubai private schools and 60,500 enrolled in higher education are the main target groups of the policy.

Although a selective programme for volunteering has been implemented for the 29,500 students in public schools, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA) framework that includes community service in private schools is only applied on an “optional basis” to the 260,000 students.

As such, Julfar said the policy recommends that KHDA lays down a programme to “regulate and encourage volunteering and social services associated to education” to promote volunteering among students here. Over the next few months, several initiatives will be launched to increase awareness on volunteering and to recognise volunteers, including a specialised conference on volunteering, and the launch of the ‘Volunteer Portal’ which will be an extension of Dubai Volunteer App.