Seven new giving initiatives to brighten up society

dubai — The Community Development Authority (CDA) has launched seven new initiatives to realise the vision of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, making 2017 the ‘Year of Giving’.

Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, director-general of CDA said that specialist volunteering will be an important element of the initiatives based on the CDA’s 2017-2021 strategy.

“We’ve carried out a strategic alignment for the Year of Giving initiatives to be part of our strategy, which will ensure sustainability and performance revision of our initiatives.”

Of the seven initiatives, the programmes to promote volunteer work in Dubai is titled ‘Volunteering Giving’ and the CDA will create new techniques to attract volunteers. Besides, the CDA will develop agreements with entities in private and public sector to encourage them to utilise the volunteers’ efforts, thereby reducing the burden on the government budget.

Julfar said: “Specialist volunteering is a vital tributary of the sustainable social and economic developments. This includes individuals and volunteering teams, therefore, we are going to establish an integrated mechanism to engage skilled volunteers and organise the volunteering services according to the community and social needs. We are currently working on the framework that we help them finding the suitable volunteering opportunities.”

The Grace of Giving is another CDA initiative that will put gather social services packages with clear outcomes. The CDA expects that this initiative will be appealing especially that it will boost services such as Al Eniya fund, a traditional way to support those who want to marry and start their new life without loans.

The CDA will work under Sharing Giving initiative and

We are going to establish an integrated mechanism to engage skilled volunteers and organise volunteering services according to the community needs.”

Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Director-general, CDA

in collaboration with the concerned entities, on an index for the social responsibilities in Dubai. The fourth programme, the Society Giving initiative will exploit resources of the private, public and nonprofit institutions in sustainable programmes to support the less fortunate sections in the society.

Under the initiative Development Giving, the CDA will devote sustainable community development fund to finance social empowerment and youth development programmes.

Another top priority will be for Empowerment Giving initiative, which will “empower vulnerable groups to attain financial independence.”

“Our ultimate objective is to convert them from people eligible for financial aids to empowered people who are able to work and give in return to themselves, their families and the society,” Julfar added.

Lastly, the Year of Giving also include Stability initiative that aims to provide families adequate facilities for their livelihood.