Have coins from a foreign trip? Donate them for global cause

dubai — The Dubai Municipality has launched a new charity initiative that aims to collect currencies from different countries to be donated to projects around the world.

The Currency Charity Bank will allow Emiratis and expats to donate foreign coins and currencies that may remain from their trips.

The municipality will coordinate with Emirates Airline Foundation to use this cash in different philanthropic projects around the world.

Donations made by the UAE visitors before leaving the country will go to the UAE Food Bank.

Mariam Ahmed bin Fahed, director of knowledge and creativity department at Dubai Municipality, said 10 large boxes and 1,000 small baskets and posters will be distributed at malls and markets.

She said the boxes will be distributed from Sunday to all municipality centres and a number of government entities to allow employees to donate remaining currencies.

She added that since exchange centres do not accept coins, charities have been facing challenges. “We contacted a number of local charitable organisations which reported that they have a large number of coins and currencies of different countries, but are of no use due to the difficulty to convert them to dirhams,” said bin Fahed.

She added that in its trial phase, the Currency Charity Bank received 800kg of coins.

“Already in the first two months of 2017, Dubai has seen three million tourists. Imagine if every tourist and resident donate their home currency, how much can we gather? One coin can make a difference,” she stressed.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com