The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Establishment, both under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, organised a voluntary campaign in Uganda. The campaign, in cooperation with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), implemented sustainable development and employment projects in the village of Kabiji in Uganda. This is part of Suqia’s commitment towards society and its integrated humanitarian and social programme during the Year of Zayed 2018, which includes 6 humanitarian and social projects to consolidate the values of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, inside and outside the UAE.
The five-day campaign provided safe drinking water and contributed to creating an environment conducive to learning and education in Uganda, to empower youth in society. The campaign included digging an artesian well, installing water distribution networks, and providing water purification filters to the village’s houses, mosques and schools, benefiting over 5,000 people. It also renovated two schools, one of which bears the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This benefits approximately 850 students. In recognition of the projects that were implemented and which bear the name of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and with the cooperation of the UAE embassy in Uganda, the main road leading to the village of Kabiji was named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Road. During the campaign, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Establishment distributed gifts to 1,500 children, food to over 500 families, and wheelchairs for 40 elderly and needy people.
“Our community and voluntary initiatives during the Year of Zayed reflect the noble values and principles instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the hearts of the people of the UAE. These include human development, wisdom, philanthropy, and generosity. The visit to Uganda is part of Suqia’s humanitarian and social programme in the Year of Zayed, which includes the ‘100 volunteers’ initiative to promote a culture of volunteering in society, the ‘100 water projects’ initiative, and global initiatives to provide safe drinking water to needy communities and implement sustainable development projects that serve their needs,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.
“The team of volunteers who took part in this initiative provided children with a new learning experience to encourage their creativity, excellence, and success by renovating their schools. Our efforts to provide drinking water to the needy communities around the world and to find sustainable and innovative solutions to water scarcity, reflect our commitment to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. These include eradicating poverty and hunger, ensuring availability, and sustainable management of water for all. The campaign also supports our humanitarian and development work, and achieves one of the main objectives of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which is to combat poverty and disease,” added Al Tayer.
“The UAE will keep following the way paved by the everlasting humanitarian school of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, as an established strategy for the UAE in giving, and supporting whoever needs help. The UAE will always be a role model for charity and humanitarian work. As a part of our initiatives in the Year of Zayed under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and through coordination with the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), the Establishment sent a joint team from the two organisations to Uganda to implement humanitarian work in the village of Kabigi. The cooperation with Suqia is a good example of the projects that humanitarian organisations can implement for the benefit of people and their countries,” said HE Ibrahim Bumelha, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment.
“This initiative reflects the Establishment’s strategy that ‘Together, we will provide a decent life for mankind.’ The Establishment is committed to expanding cooperation in charity and humanitarian work according to its strategic map to bring all local and international efforts together to implement different charitable projects. Cooperation among humanitarian organisations has a great effect on communities. This partnership with Suqia is powered by these polices which led to abundant partnerships with other departments,” added Bumelha.