Watani Al Emarat Foundation has honoured Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) for its role in supporting the ‘Your City Needs You’ campaign launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. DEWA provided logistical support to the health and social sectors in Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic. A large number of DEWA staff also volunteered to support the first line of defence. They proved their readiness, commitment to training, and followed all precautionary measures.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, received the shield from HE Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi, Director General of Watani Al Emarat Foundation. Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA, and Taha Al Hamri, Chief Happiness Officer, and Head of the voluntary team at DEWA, were present.

Al Tayer commended the ‘Your City Needs You’ campaign, which enables society members to participate in several volunteering activities according to their area of expertise and knowledge. The initiative played an important role in supporting the first line of defence in fighting COVID-19. Al Tayer emphasised that DEWA supports the initiative and that it promotes voluntarism among its staff as a national and humanitarian duty.

“DEWA has an integrated strategy for voluntarism, in line with the vision and directives of the wise leadership. Volunteering is a civilised approach that stems from the foundations of the UAE. Humanitarian initiatives by our wise leadership have recorded a large turnout during these exceptional circumstances to contain the coronavirus. Efforts continue to overcome this hardship as soon as possible. This social cohesion is a result of the worthy values instilled by the Founding Fathers among every citizen and resident on this good land,”

said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer reiterated DEWA’s commitment towards society and its support to the sustainable and integrated system of volunteering in the UAE and Dubai. He noted that DEWA’s employees are keen to take part in volunteering initiatives in the UAE and abroad. DEWA’s social and humanitarian programmes are an indispensable part of its efforts to empower society. It creates a work environment that enhances social responsibility among its staff and promotes humanitarian work among them. Between 2013 and 2019, DEWA launched 330 initiatives. DEWA staff recorded around 131,000 volunteer hours in humanitarian and social initiatives inside and outside the UAE.

Last year, 80 DEWA employees received the DEWA Volunteer Diploma, in collaboration with Amity University. The programme enhances the capabilities of participants in all aspects of voluntarism, qualifies them to manage volunteering programmes locally and globally, as well as prepare them to become trainers in DEWA’s Volunteer Leadership Programme.

News Source: https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2020/September/02-09/Watani-honours-DEWA