Bahrain today joined the other Arab states in celebrating the Arab Day for Voluntary Work, which falls today (September 15). Social Development Minister Dr. Fatma Mohammed Al-Balooshi described voluntary work in Bahrain as a deep-rooted culture involving most social components and citizens from different age categories. In a statement issued today, she hailed the crucial role civil society organisations and professional associations in promoting voluntary work in Bahrain. She highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to provide all facilities and resources to institutionalize voluntary work-stressing in this regard the contribution of the NGOs-Support Centre-an affiliate of the Social Development Ministry- in building administrative, technical and institutional competences of civil institutions in Bahrain. Dr. Al-Balooshi underscored the importance of launching Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al-Khalifa Award for Voluntary Work. She also pointed out the decision of the Government to refer the draft law on non-profit organization to the legislative authority for more scrutiny, adding the new legislation, once endorsed, would replace the law dating to 1989-deemed outdated.