Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is sponsoring the development and upgrade of the agricultural workshops at the Rashid Centre for The Determined Ones. This is part of DEWA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its strategy to empower and integrate people of determination in society. Upgrading the workshops includes adding greenhouses for organic agriculture, replacing the soil to suit the nature of the climate, improving the irrigation network, introducing a hydroponics system, as well as setting up outlets to sell students’ produce. After the development process, the number of students benefiting from the agricultural workshops will increase to over 150 students.
“DEWA’s CSR is in line with the National Policy to Empower People of Determination, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create an inclusive society that ensures empowerment and a decent life for people of determination and their families, and 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 Executive Council of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a city that is friendly for people of determination by 2020. We are pleased to support the upgrade of the agricultural workshops for students at Rashid Centre for The Determined Ones. This sponsorship reflects DEWA’s commitment and support for people of determination though initiatives and programmes that contribute to their empowerment and integration in society,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD &CEO of DEWA.
“DEWA has taken huge strides in supporting and empowering people of determination by launching several initiatives, programmes, and services, according to well-defined plans and strategies aligned with the best global practices and standards. This helps integrate people of determination and achieve their happiness by creating a conducive environment that allows them to unleash their capabilities and potential. This also enhances their inclusion in society, and to involve them in society as capable and creative individuals. These efforts have contributed to raising Social Happiness about DEWA’s role as an organisation that supports people of determination to 94.3% in 2017,” added Al Tayer.
Mariam Othman, Director General of Rashid Centre for The Determined Ones, commended DEWA’s sponsorship of upgrading the agricultural workshops at the Centre.
“Rashid Centre for The Determined Ones have close ties with most government organisations in Dubai, particularly with DEWA, which has been providing all kinds of support to the Centre. This step proves that government organisations are well aware of the need to support people of determination. In the UAE, we are used to providing help and assistance to all in need. Without a doubt, people of determination require us to support them in every possible way to ensure their inclusion in society and provide all the services they need,” said Othman.
“At Rashid Centre for The Determined Ones, we strive to provide all educational services that the students need, and certainly the agriculture workshop, is part of the programmes offered by the Centre to its students. Through the workshops, we aim to teach students the basics of agriculture and how to care for plants of all kinds. To make the project more successful, we have allocated spaces within the Centre where students can plant crops. The students were able to convert these spaces into areas to produce organic crops without the use of any chemical fertilizers,” added Othman.
DEWA won the People-of-Determination-Friendly Government Entity award at the 21st Dubai Government Excellence Programme 2018. DEWA received the MVO8000 in CSR, becoming the first government organisation in Dubai to receive this global recognition. DEWA also won three awards in the International Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Excellence Awards 2017.