ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Family Care Authority (FCA) has launched the "Community Awareness Ambassadors Initiative" as part of its ongoing One Family community outreach effort.
The new initiative aims to raise public awareness about key family and social issues by identifying and training a select group of university students based on specific criteria to serve as ambassadors within their respective communities.
Focused on youth, the Community Awareness Ambassadors Initiative programme reflects the Family Care Authority’s continued efforts to ensure that community members across all segments are actively engaged and involved in addressing critical social issues.
The primary objective of the initiative is to bolster community efforts in preventing violence by empowering these students to act as mediators, while also spreading knowledge and awareness, and establishing effective communication channels within their communities.
The initiative will commence at Zayed University and Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH) and is part of a series of community outreach initiatives led by the FCA to foster a more inclusive and impact-driven community, working together to effect lasting social change.
Training Programme
The one-academic-year training programme encompasses a wide range of topics related to family and society, such as child abuse, domestic violence, mental health, and human trafficking. It is centred on involving university students in education campaigns by raising their awareness and educational capacities and deepening their comprehension of various forms of violence and its impact on individuals and communities.
Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of the Family Care Authority, said: "The Community Awareness Ambassadors Initiative an important step in aligning with the Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy, as it reflects our commitment to enhancing the educational and empowerment skills of university students, while also creating new opportunities for youth to be active contributors in the social sector.”
She added, “Through this initiative, we aim to increase awareness among target groups about the damaging effects of violence, facilitate greater reporting of violence cases, and ensure that individuals receive the necessary support and guidance on the services offered by the Family Care Authority in collaboration with partners across various fields.”
"The ongoing initiatives under the One Family umbrella play a crucial role in fostering a deep understanding of the Family Care Authority’s services, as well as all family and social issues related to violence and human trafficking among young people and various segments of the community,” Al Ameemi noted.
She further said: “By empowering youth to take active roles in such initiatives, we aim to develop their interpersonal skills—such as self-confidence and effective communication—while encouraging them to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s overall social wellbeing. As the emerging generation and future family leaders, youth are responsible for shaping future generations' values and behaviours. This will have a lasting impact on Abu Dhabi, helping to build a safer, more resilient society.”
Preventing Risks of Violence
The Family Care Authority supports the principle that prevention is better than cure and aims to enhance awareness and prevent the risks of violence and human trafficking by equipping young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to address these issues before they escalate. By imparting this knowledge, the FCA endeavours to foster a conscious generation capable of building cohesive and stable families founded on understanding and quality upbringing, thereby contributing to a more stable and unified society.
Participating in these campaigns enables youth to earn accredited volunteer hours, as well as a certificate of appreciation for their role as the Family Care Authority ambassadors.