ABU DHABI, Several female Emirati volunteers who are part of programmes and initiatives of the Authority of Social Contribution (Ma’an) stressed that Emirati Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the inspiring achievements of Emirati women and their role in creating a sustainable social impact that enhances the country’s stature.
In her statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Salama Al Amimi, Director-General of Ma’an, said Emirati Women’s Day is a realisation of the empowerment approach established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and highlights the efforts and directives of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and the “Mother of the Nation”, to enhance the stature of Emirati women and support them.
“In light of the ongoing support of the UAE’s leadership for Emirati women, under the framework of a forward-looking vision aimed at empowering them, Emirati women have utilised all opportunities provided to them in various areas, and have engaged in the process of sustainable development,” she said.
Since the establishment of the authority, it has been keen to offer support and guidance to the projects and ideas of Emirati social entrepreneurs, and the previous years have witnessed a range of distinguished projects led by young Emirati women, she added.
The Ghaya financial literacy programme has witnessed the active participation of Emirati instructors volunteering to correct concepts related to financial administration. They have trained four female batches.
Nada Saeed Abdullah, an accredited Emirati business skills and financial affairs trainer, who works as a financial manager for the Emirates Foundation, has over 20 years of experience. She said the purpose of her participation in the programme and volunteering as a trainer is to share her knowledge to benefit others, and added that she loves to share her knowledge and expertise with members of the community to benefit everyone.
The programme was established at the right time because everyone needs to think about gaining the necessary financial culture skills, she stressed. The UAE’s leadership has empowered women and enabled them to become key partners in the process of comprehensive development, affirming that they need to be influential and efficient and must capitalise on all available opportunities to engage and leave a remarkable mark on the community, she added.
Khadija Al Ghafri, a banking sector employee from Ras Al Khaimah, said that she has been volunteering since 2021 and is keen to attend a wide range of national programmes and activities.
The Ma’an programme has encouraged her to use her professional and volunteering experience. She is an accredited trainer working in the banking sector with a passion for volunteering, she added.
She also stated that she is confident that this distinguished social programme will have a considerable effect on the community, which will not be limited to its participants but will also impact their families, friends and colleagues.
“Solidarity and cooperation will help us address and overcome challenges. I am proud to be a volunteer, training three batches of the Ghaya financial literacy programme,” she said.
Sheikha Al Suwaidi, an employee of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi who volunteers for the programme, said that she is keen to share her knowledge and skills with members of the community, explaining that most young people encounter problems when managing their finances, which is mainly not knowing what you need and what you want.
Al Suwaidi said that Sheikha Fatima is her role model, and as an Emirati woman managing her family’s and children’s affairs, she believes that Emirati women can make a positive impact on the community, adding that she can share her knowledge and expertise through her work and volunteering activities to benefit the community.
The Journey of Generations programme is one of the authority’s leading initiatives, organised in cooperation with the Al Mubarakah Foundation to promote interactions between elderly citizens and residents and the youth in the Abu Dhabi community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Samira Mohammed, one of the programme’s volunteers who is currently retired, said volunteering is a spiritually fulfilling activity, as it brings happiness and enriches people’s skills.
She then explained that volunteering activities in the UAE have witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, but there is still work to be done to raise the public’s awareness about the importance and benefits of volunteering, as part of people’s national duty.
She also noted that Emirati women have demonstrated their ability to produce and give, as well as promote the UAE’s developmental stature. They are capable of leading key sectors and fields, and traditional perceptions about women have changed, in light of the keenness of the UAE’s leadership to empower women and enable them to excel and innovate.
On Emirati Women’s Day, Mohammed is sending a message to all women in the country, telling them to be confident and invest their energies, in serving themselves and the community.
Shuae Al Rumaithi, a student at Abu Dhabi University and a volunteer for the Journey of Generations programme, stated that the youth must be more connected to senior citizens. She was keen to volunteer in the programme to learn from the experiences of senior citizens and explore the country’s traditional heritage.
“Senior citizens are a true wealth for the country’s citizens, and a link between the past and present,” she said. The UAE and its leadership have exerted all possible efforts to empower women and encourage them to achieve many unprecedented achievements and successes. Emirati women have proven that they are worthy of assuming leading positions in all areas, she added.
Source: Emirates News Agency