ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and the Authority of Social Contribution (Ma'an) signed a partnership agreement to enhance the capabilities of the Alghadeer Emirati Crafts Project. 


This agreement aims to support and empower the craftswomen involved in the project nationwide. 


Under the agreement, Ma'an provides an initial financial contribution of Dh1 million to enhance the project's technical and logistical capacities by establishing a comprehensive workshop in Abu Dhabi. This workshop aims to develop the skills of creative women in the field of UAE crafts to ensure their sustainability.


The agreement outlines the frameworks for cooperation between the two parties in enhancing training and qualification programmes. It specifies that teams from both sides will identify areas of joint work to achieve the agreement's goals and exchange information and expertise. 


The agreement also stipulates that both parties will work together to attract the largest number of contributors and supporters to the project and to include new segments of beneficiaries from local and resident craftswomen. 


This will enable them to achieve financial independence and sustainability, enter new markets to promote UAE products and increase production lines within the workshops by 20% and the number of craftswomen by 10% in the first year of this long-term partnership.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of ERC, and Her Excellency Salama Ajlan Al Amimi, Director-General of Ma’an.

Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Assistant to the Chairman of the ERC for Women’s Affairs, emphasised that the Alghadeer Project has become one of the leading Emirati initiatives in women's empowerment, sustainability, and community service. Her Highness stated that the signing of the agreement between Alghadeer and Ma'an reflects the commitment of both parties to these principles and strengthens relations with strategic partners in humanitarian work and community service.

Her Highness highlighted that the agreement opens up broader fields for cooperation and coordination between the ERC and the Ma'an, stressing that it is a true embodiment of their will to coordinate efforts and activate existing cooperation to serve the community through the pioneering Alghadeer Project in women's empowerment.

Her Highness added that the agreement also reinforces the principle of partnership in supporting the humanitarian work in the country and represents an advanced step towards adopting initiatives that enhance social responsibility, paving the way for a new phase of strategic partnership that will have a direct impact on the efforts of both parties in the humanitarian and community fields.

Her Highness praised Ma'an’s humanitarian initiatives and its role in supporting projects that serve broad segments of the community in Abu Dhabi, enhancing its developmental plans and strategic position.

H.E. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri lauded the gracious patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan for the Alghadeer Project and Her Highness’ continuous support for its activities, which represents a qualitative initiative to support self-sufficient and productive families.

He confirmed that the project contributes to reviving the UAE’s heritage through its products made from local materials, linking the new generations to the rich history of their ancestors.

He pointed out that the project trains women to manufacture UAE products from local raw materials in the country, with the ERC taking charge of promoting and marketing these products through exhibitions and markets, allocating their revenues to improve the income of productive families. He assured that the ERC will spare no effort to upgrade and develop the project and expand the umbrella of beneficiary families.

Al Mansouri stated that the authority welcomes its partnership with the Authority of Social Contribution and will work to implement the agreement on the ground, serving its strategic goals in empowerment and sustainability and rallying support for the Alghadeer Project. This includes developing future work plans that contribute to expanding the umbrella of beneficiaries from its programmes among craftswomen across the country.