Abu Dhabi royal staff give back to the community

An initiative called 'Al Bayt Mitwahid' - or "Our Home is United" - will see seven new projects implemented in each of the seven emirates to promote a culture of giving back to the community.

Employees of the Crown Prince’s Court plan the Al Bayt Mitwahid programme of community projects across UAE. Wam
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ABU DHABI// A giant fish reserve, a special majlis for the elderly and a scheme to improve the education of children with special needs are part of a new campaign to give back to the community.

The Crown Prince’s Court in Abu Dhabi has announced funding for seven new projects, one in each emirate, in an initiative called Al Bayt Mitwahid, or Our Home is United – inspired by a saying of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

“Motivated by our understanding of our country’s Spirit of the Union concept, Al Bayt Mitwahid campaign provides Crown Prince Court employees with a chance to take small steps towards giving back to the community on issues that matter to them,” said Jaber Mohammed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, director general of the CPC.

“We hope every initiative will further promote unity, solidarity and a sense of mutual responsibility among UAE communities.”

In Abu Dhabi, a mentorship initiative aims to provide career advice, professional development and skill-building opportunities for 40 students selected from Zayed University, the Higher Colleges of Technology, Khalifa University, and UAE University.

An environmental awareness campaign in Dubai aims to encourage young students at Al Aqsa Public School to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, such as water-saving taps and LED lighting, in their daily lives.

An initiative for special-needs students in Sharjah will provide Al Amal Centre for Deaf Students with specialised equipment, such as interactive smart boards and speech therapy devices, to improve the students’ learning experience and the centre’s diagnostic capabilities.

An agricultural initiative in Ajman will develop hydroponic feed-farming. The CPC team will provide several farms in the emirate with the technology to reduce water consumption in the farming of agricultural products that are typically water-intensive.

For Umm Al Quwain, the development of a walkway, a children’s playground and a seating area on the beach aims to encourage families to adopt healthier lifestyles and incorporate exercise into their daily routines.

In Ras Al Khaimah, a special majlis for the elderly will be built to provide the older members of the community more opportunities to socialise.

In Dhadna, Fujairah, a 360,000 square metre fish reserve will be developed through the use of environmentally friendly reef balls, to provide a feeding area for demersal fish off the coast.

Al Bayt Mitwahid campaign aims to promote a culture of giving back to community across the seven emirates, said Mr Al Suwaidi.

During Ramadan, CPC members launched the campaign at an internal event attended by Mr Al Suwaidi, along with other CPC directors and more than 170 employees.

During the event, the employees were given the opportunity to contribute funds to help fund the campaign.

Work has begun on some of the initiatives.

In Abu Dhabi, the mentorship programme is already under way, with 20 CPC employees providing advice on professional development to the 40 students, selected for their academic and extracurricular achievements.

“I am excited about this initiative, which will allow me to share my experience with youth from upcoming generations, and offer them advice so they are better prepared to overcome future challenges,” said Mohamed Musallam Al Junaibi, head of the contracts unit at the CPC.

The CPC team have also begun their work in the other emirates, including a visit to the site where the reef balls will be deployed in Fujairah and the organisation of an iftar event during Ramadan for senior citizens in Ras Al Khaimah, where the majlis will be built.

The campaign has dedicated social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram under AlBaytMitwahid.

jbell@thenational.ae