In response to the directives of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, launching the “National Strategy for the Year of Giving” and dedicating its various initiatives to commemorate the UAE’s martyrs who laid down their lives in service of the nation, Abu Dhabi University launched yesterday (6th March) the “ADU Year of Giving Strategy 2017” under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and President of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Regents.

The launch took place during a press conference held at the University’s Abu Dhabi campus highlighting the various academic, social, cultural, humanitarian and charitable initiatives and activities of the strategy which aims to promote the culture of giving and social responsibility as well as the values of compassion and philanthropy.

H.E Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Chairman of Abu Dhabi University’s Executive Board expressed the University’s keenness in launching the “ADU Year of Giving Strategy 2017” in response to the directives of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE to instill the culture of giving and enhance humanitarian and philanthropic work in the UAE . “On behalf of the ADU family, I am honored to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to His Highness the President of the UAE, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, for their continuous support and patronage of  the cultural renaissance of our nation, and their keenness in spreading the values of giving, compassion and solidarity among various segments of the UAE’s society”, added Bin Harmal.

Bin Harmal went on to explain that the “ADU Year of Giving Strategy 2017” translates the University’s philosophy and mission that were put in place by H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to ensure that ADU; as a national University of international standards, upholds the UAE’s values, reinforces the importance of national identity, all while disseminating knowledge and serving the community, the region, and the world. “Today, we are proud to announce more than 60 initiatives under the umbrella of the ‘ADU Year of Giving Strategy 2017’, which were all designed to cater to students’ various humanitarian, philanthropic and charitable interests that best reflect their interaction with the local community. Perhaps, the most significant initiative is ADU’s dedication of AED 12 Million to scholarships and financial aid during the second semester of the current academic year 2016 -2017, which will benefit around 2,015 academically gifted and financially-challenged students enrolled to study at the University’s Abu Dhabi and Al Ain campuses”, added Bin Harmal.

“The initiatives also extend to cater to various sectors of the community, including special needs the elderly, children, orphans and workers, in addition to several initiatives that correspond to the ‘National Month of Reading’.  The values of giving and compassion have always been engrained in the UAE’s culture. They are the values we learned from our nation’s founding father the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to render aid, support, and compassion to the needy and destitute without prejudice against race, religion, creed, nationality or color. These are also the same values that our wise leadership follows today”, concluded Bin Harmal.