• Initiative launched in line with the ‘Year of Zayed 2018’ 
• Installing a volunteer corner to support the ‘Day for Dubai’ initiative 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14 February 2018:   In line with the values of the UAE’s 'Year of Zayed 2018', the Corporate Social Responsibility Team at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has launched the ‘My Environment, My Responsibility’ initiative in Hatta.

The initiative took place on 1st February and reflected the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s interest in preserving and maintaining our world for future generations, as well as his efforts to balance development with the environment.  

The initiative was part of an integrated programme that serves to protect Hatta’s environment and support the Hatta Development Plan. The programme targeted senior officials from Dubai Culture and other government and private sector leaders, aiming to promote the concept of volunteerism and its role in building a society that believes in community responsibility as a way of life. This supports the UAE leadership’s mission to spread happiness across the community.
 

The officials started by signing in at a volunteer corner, which was placed in in the Hatta public library to support the ‘Day for Dubai’ initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.  The corner was open to the public, students and people with determination with an opportunity to participate. 
 
The event was led by Saeed Al  Nabouda, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture, and attended by a number of government and private senior officials. The participants planted trees in the Suhaila area and also cleaned the hill area of Hatta.
 
The programme also included a traditional tour of the Hatta Heritage Village and concluded with a ceremony where the participants were honoured and thanked for their help by Dubai Municipality and Watani Al Emarat Foundation; private companies including Al Futtaim Group and Sheikha Maitha Bint Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for special needs; and students from the Rashid bin Said School in Hatta.
 
Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture commented: 'Dubai Culture regularly launches initiatives and events across Dubai to promote social responsibility. This is aligned with the directives of our leadership and initiatives such as ‘Day for Dubai’, which aims to strengthen the spirit of volunteerism among community members and spread the values of the ‘Year of Zayed 2018’. By encouraging the community to participate in the programmes and events launched by our Corporate Social Responsibility Team, we are sharing the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless him.”
 
Dubai Culture invited all segments of the community to participate in World Volunteering Day in cooperation with the Community Development Authority and the Al-Futtaim Group, and to register at the Dubai Volunteer Platform in Dubai Festival City last December. The platform received 83 volunteers and provided opportunities to volunteer for various events hosted in the Emirate.
 
Dubai Culture aims to enhance Dubai’s cultural scene and draw attention to the Emirate’s rich heritage with a variety of initiatives that take place throughout the year. The Authority’s mandate is to build bridges of constructive dialogue between different civilisations and cultures through enriching initiatives that benefit the Emirate’s citizens, residents and visitors.