ERC Forms Strategic Alliances To Advance 'Training For Empowerment' Initiative

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has formalised three memoranda of cooperation with the Family Development Foundation, the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, and the Al-Fariya team from Sandooq Al Watan at the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence. This initiative is part of the ‘Training for Empowerment’ programme, which aims to train a large number of participants in Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts across the nation.

These agreements will create a strategic partnership among the involved parties to achieve their goals in qualifying, training, and empowering artisans. The focus is on increasing the number of artisans involved in Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts. The signing ceremony was attended by Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of ERC’s Board of Directors. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, ERC Secretary-General; Mariam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation (FDF); and Mohammed Khalifa Al Kaabi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Council for Balanced Development were among those who signed the memoranda.

The memoranda outline cooperation frameworks between ERC and its partners in areas of mutual interest. They aim to leverage each party's services to support artisanal work, humanitarian initiatives, and enhance social responsibility services. This initiative will promote "Training for Empowerment" across all seven emirates by incorporating various handicrafts into modern products that meet both local and international market needs.

H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan highlighted that the Al Ghadeer project is a pioneering Emirati initiative focused on economic and social empowerment, resource sustainability, and community service. In her statement delivered by Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri during a press conference at ERC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Sheikha Shamsa emphasised that these cooperation agreements establish a strategic partnership to support the Al Ghadeer project by expanding training opportunities for women artisans nationwide.

Mariam Mohammed Al Rumaithi stated that collaborating with ERC, the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, and the Al-Fariya team reflects FDF’s dedication to providing social services that meet community needs. She added that this aligns with H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak's vision and directives as Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of FDF.

Sheikha Shamsa also noted that this initiative would enhance coordination between national authorities and partners. It reflects their commitment to working together to benefit the community through Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts. These agreements signify progress in promoting social responsibility and fostering stronger strategic partnerships to further humanitarian and community efforts.

This collaboration aims to support artisanal work while enhancing social responsibility services across various fields. By leveraging each party's expertise, they aim to incorporate traditional handicrafts into modern products suitable for both local and international markets.

The initiative will be promoted across all seven emirates under "Training for Empowerment," focusing on integrating traditional crafts into contemporary products that cater to market demands.

This effort underscores a commitment to community service through economic empowerment and resource sustainability initiatives like Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts.

With inputs from WAM