H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has launched the Fatima bint Mubarak Volunteering Programme.

The programme is the first of its kind and aims to establish the culture of volunteer work and humanitarian giving among women and children, both locally and internationally, by adopting initiatives to attract, train and build the capabilities of women and children, and enable them to participate in volunteer work.

The programme is in line with the directive of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declaring 2017 as the Year of Giving. It is also a realisation of the wise leadership’s vision to establish the culture of volunteer work and humanitarian giving.

The Fatima bint Mubarak Volunteering Programme focusses on the four pillars of thought, ability, empowerment and giving, and will include several initiatives that will effectively contribute to developing the skills of women and children and enable them to take part in volunteer work, through organising summits, launching a programme to enhance their abilities, and creating an award for women and children in the area of volunteer work.

The programme will also launch an international campaign to invest in the efforts of women and children in the sectors of health, education, culture and the environment, as well as in other initiatives that will help to achieve a sustainable community and economic development.

Noura Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Women’s Union, stressed that Sheikha Fatima spares no efforts in encouraging the UAE’s daughters to participate in volunteer work to benefit all community members in all areas, based on her belief that volunteer work supports and strengthens social solidarity.

She added that the UAE, due to the efforts of the wise leadership, has given volunteer work considerable attention, which is highlighted by the presence of many organisations and institutes that specialise in local and international volunteer programmes and activities.

Dr. Adel Al Shameri, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, said that the UAE is a model to follow in international humanitarian giving, whose foundations were established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

He noted that the major developments in the journey of volunteer work in the UAE comes at a time when the country is witnessing rapid sustainable development and economic and social advancement. He also called for the nation’s combined overall efforts, especially from the youth, to build on the country’s achievements and effectively participate in strengthening its development.