Mays Ibrahim (Abu Dhabi)
The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) on Thursday honoured educational institutions that received the Aoun Award for Community Service in its 12th edition for the academic year 2023-2024.
This took place during a ceremony held at Al Raha Beach Theatre in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Emirates Schools Establishment and the Department of Education and Knowledge.
The ERC student teams include 94,000 members, from 338 educational institutions, including schools, kindergartens, and centres for people of determination, in addition to Red Crescent Student Clubs at universities.
Winners in this edition of the award included five universities, 21 schools, six kindergartens, and four centres for people of determination, selected out of the 298 participating institutions.
The ceremony also honoured participants from 15 distinguished categories on the UAE level, including the innovative student, the volunteering coordinator, the volunteering community hero, and the distinguished parent.
In his address, His Excellency Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of Emirates Red Crescent Authority, emphasised the significant role of youth in driving the development and prosperity of human societies.
He noted that the UAE has always worked on creating a conducive environment, harnessing the talents and energies of youth for the benefit of their communities and humanity as a whole.
“Following the path of our wise leadership, the Emirates Red Crescent works to instill concepts of volunteerism, humanitarianism, and charitable work among students, encouraging them to extend a helping hand to those in need,” Al Mansouri said.
He further pointed out that the Aoun Award for Community Service fosters creativity and competition among students, motivating them to take initiative, and engage in volunteer and charitable work.
Culture of Giving, Deeply Rooted in Emirati Society
Aletihad spoke to a number of awardees who emphasised the transformative impact of the Aown Award in fostering giving and volunteerism, which are well-established values in UAE society.
The Victoria International School of Sharjah (VISS) - Central Region won first place in the early years category through their “Budding Volunteers” programme. Hediah Kadous, Founding Head of VISS Central Region, noted the importance of volunteering and service learning as essential components of the school’s ethos.
Leading this winning programme is Hanem Shaaban, Activities Coordinator at VISS Central Region. She said that students’ volunteering efforts focused on supporting the “helping hands” at the school, such as bus drivers and the cleaners, through a wide range of initiatives including arranging a group Umra trip.
“Involving children in these volunteering activities had a positive impact on them. It allowed them to recognise and value the contributions of the school’s support staff, ultimately strengthening their characters, in addition to nurturing their empathy and sense of responsibility towards others,” she told Aletihad.
Shaaban added that volunteering holds immense significance in Emirati culture, embodying values of unity, cooperation, and generosity that underpin the foundation of the UAE.
“The legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, epitomises these values, inspiring a culture of volunteerism that is deep-rooted in emirati society,” said Shaaban, who also won the award for best volunteering coordinator in the UAE.
Rofida Maymoon, 23, leads the Aoun team for community service at Abu Dhabi University - Al Ain, which clinched the top spot in the university category.
Speaking with Aletihad, Maymoon explained that the team’s volunteering efforts focused on empowering people of determination through a diverse range of initiatives spanning innovation, religion, health, and education, both on and off-campus. Collaborating with various institutions, their efforts included donation drives, seminars, and workshops, among others.
“The support and encouragement of our wise leadership through initiatives such as the Aoun Award has a profound impact, promoting and instilling a culture of volunteering among all members of society,” she said.
The ERC allocated Dh30,000 for the first-place winner at the university level, Dh25,000 for the second place, and Dh20,000 for the third place. At the school level, Dh25,000 was allocated for the first place, Dh20,000 for the second place, and Dh15,000 for the third place. For kindergartens, Dh15,000 was allocated for the first place, Dh10,000 for the second place, and Dh8,000 for the third place. In addition, Dh15,000 was allocated for the winner of first place in the category of centre for people of determination, Dh10,000 for the second place, and Dh8,000 for the third place.