Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has held an International Volunteering Forum remotely via video conference as part of celebrations of the International Volunteer Day held on December 5th annually. RTA hosted Khalifa Baqer, Senior Consultant at the General Secretariat of the Dubai Executive Council and Head of Covid-19 Control Centre; and Ahmed Nazar Al Falasi, winner of the Arab Hope Maker Award 2020, founder of the Ahmed Al Falasi Foundation for Humanitarian and Charitable Initiatives. About 170 employees attended the launch of the updated version of the internal volunteer platform.

Kicking off the session, Rowdah Al Mehrizi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector, RTA, welcomed the two guests and attendees. She noted that RTA's celebration of the International Volunteer Day stems from its appreciation of this important concept, and its role in promoting the spirits of solidarity, humanity and brotherhood between community members. 

“Volunteering is an optional behaviour but has turned into a life necessity in supporting governments, charitable institutions and the needy. Volunteering gives volunteers a lot of personal experiences such as nurturing the spirit and love of giving and goodness. RTA has forged several partnerships with local and external bodies to support its volunteering projects. Credit goes to volunteering employees’ teams who contributed to the implementation of many of RTA’s volunteering activities,” she explained. 

Al-Mehrizi made a presentation reviewing top initiatives and achievements in volunteering and social responsibility since the establishment of RTA in late 2005. She shed light on two initiatives: Meals on Wheels and Kiswat Khair, which are sustainable initiatives that RTA is keen to enhance and improve each year. She also reviewed several other charitable initiatives undertaken by RTA in Egypt, Thailand, Senegal, Tanzania and other initiatives launched by UAE and Dubai Government, in which RTA played a key role such as the Well of Hope.

Khalifa Baqer made a visual presentation on several topics highlighted by the concept of volunteering, and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, for the concept of volunteering and its role in human life. He touched on the role of the organisation in driving the culture of volunteering among employees, and the importance of individual volunteering practices for no reward as it contributes to the self-identity. He also spoke about volunteer during the Coronavirus crisis and how people were motivated to play a role in the pandemic at workers accommodation, quarantine premises, field hospital and others. 

About 232,687 volunteering hours were delivered, and more than 3 million meals were distributed. Baqer called for setting up platforms for databases of volunteers to assist decision-makers in any volunteering activities, especially during crises and emergencies.

“Volunteering in the UAE has become an integrated structure regionally and globally. The world is viewing the UAE as a model for urbanization and advancement that epitomes the value of volunteering in people’s lives. Innovation in volunteering means adding something new, be it in terms of geographical scope or searching for categories worthy of support,” said Ahmed Nazar Al Falasi. 

He spoke about his volunteering efforts such as establishing a shelter in China for childrens victims of an earthquake as well as the needy in Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq, Uganda and Bahrain. He stressed the role of technology in reaching to volunteering platforms and places that need this kind of humanitarian and charitable work. 

At the end of the Forum, the updated version of RTA’s in-house volunteering featuring an array of benefits to volunteers that include registering their achievements, CVs, and briefing them on the latest developments of RTA’s volunteering activities.