Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced its participation as strategic sponsor in the sixth edition of the Princess Haya Award for Special Education 2016-2017. The Award is being organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The award honours faculty members working in the private education sector, while establishing a competitive environment to enhance the services and care provided to those with special needs. The award ceremony will witness the participation of HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, and is being held at Madinat Jumeirah on 11 April 2017.
“Our sponsorship of the Award supports efforts to honour faculty who work in special education and care for those with special needs. The Award coincides with the declaration of 2017 as the Year of Giving, by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to develop a comprehensive framework and unify efforts to support the Year of Giving initiative. This will ensure social development, and allow us to fulfil our commitment to society. We are committed to cooperating with all government and private organisations to enhance Dubai’s position as the preferred place to live, work, and visit. We believe that unification is the key towards achieving our objectives, which include achieving the happiness of individuals and the society as a whole. We also work to increase the UAE’s level of competitiveness, on a global scale,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
Al Tayer noted that DEWA is committed to achieving its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), through projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the development of the community. This supports the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to promote community service, the My Community… A City for Everyone initiative launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. The initiative aims to make Dubai a disabled-friendly city by 2020. This reflects those with disabilities as important members of the community and country, who are key factors in achieving the growth and leadership, as a result of receiving the highest quality care and rehabilitation services.
“The UAE is working to meet the requirements of all segments of society, especially those with special needs, to achieve sustainable development in the Emirate, and create a brighter future for generations to come. DEWA is committed to achieving its CSR, in adherence with its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, the UAE Vision 2021, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to transform Dubai into a cohesive society, based on coherent families and communities,’ added Al Tayer.
Al Tayer noted that DEWA continuously sponsors charitable and humanitarian initiatives, and supports people with special needs by providing them with necessary support and working to achieve their happiness. DEWA provides children with special needs with the opportunity to perform Umrah, in addition to a number of other opportunities. DEWA has also provided the infrastructure required to support the disabled, along with other services and programmes. DEWA recruits people with special needs, to fill positions tailored to their expertise and academic achievements. DEWA provides services to meet the needs of people with disabilities, to streamline their integration into the community. The Ash’ir initiative allows people with disabilities to use sign language to communicate with DEWA call centre staff.
DEWA has implemented a valet service for people with disabilities to park their cars. Its Customer Happiness Centres is designed to be accessible with road monitoring systems for people with special needs, as well as a specialised team to deal with people with visual and hearing impairments. DEWA has provided customised services for the visually impaired with braille, in addition to a booklet on how to send complaints electronically. DEWA has also implemented easier ways for people with special needs to pay their bills, and has provided tips on how to cut down on electricity and water.
DEWA launched the Absher initiative, which includes a dedicated team of specialists and qualified staff in human resources, in addition to a hotline, to meet the needs of people with disabilities and further integrate them into society. DEWA’s Sanad card provides a number of services to people with disabilities. The Sanad card offers benefits to individuals with special needs, such as wheelchair services and the Maraheb service. The Zakher card provides the elderly with an easier life for their role in the community, and in adherence with the teachings of Islam, customs, and tradition of the local community. In cooperation with the Community Development Authority (CDA), DEWA has launched a series of initiatives to reduce the burden of electricity costs for residents with low-income jobs, this also includes people with special needs who hold low-income jobs or come from less fortunate families. DEWA has allocated a budget to contribute towards providing electricity to those with disabilities. CDA receives special assistance requests, and conducts social research based on approved conditions and criteria. CDA then provide DEWA with the eligible cases, who will analyse, approve requests, and approve the amount for contribution.
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