Volunteering one time provides numerous benefits to the youth, including allowing them to build their confidence and develop professional networks, a top official said in the capital on Sunday.

This is why the UAE leaders’ endorsement of voluntary work, by designating 2017 as the Year of Giving, sends such a powerful message, Clare Woodcraft-Scott, chief executive officer at the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development, told Gulf News.

“By their very nature, voluntary activities are a means of giving back to one’s community. But they also allow youth to develop a sense of confidence in themselves, along with a robust professional network that can assist in their future career choices. This is why the Year of Giving is such an excellent initiative,” she said.

“The move, which follows many high-level discussions, will surely propagate a culture of giving,” she added.

The spirit of giving was yesterday (December 24) marked as a theme for the UAE in 2017, with the aim of strengthening social responsibility, promoting volunteerism and instilling in youth a sense of serving their nation. As part of the announcement, President His Highness Shaikha Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the level of importance of a voluntary culture is an indicator of social development.

source : gulfnews