Takatof
Encyclopedia
The Takatof Programme for Social Volunteering is a nationwide volunteering initiative in the United Arab Emirates
. It is one of the principal initiatives of the Emirates Foundation, a charitable organisation
established in 2005 in the UAE under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince
of Abu Dhabi
and the Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces. Takatof was launched in Abu Dhabi in April 2007 with an inaugural school renovation event.
Takatof is working to create a culture of volunteering
throughout the UAE. It offers all residents of the country an opportunity to volunteer in an Emirati environment through activities that promote community involvement, national identity and citizenship
.
This programme gives volunteers unique opportunities for semi-skilled work in revamping schools – painting, cleaning, gardening and site cleaning, as well as replacing furniture and modernizing library
and laboratory
facilities. This project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi Education Council and related institutions.
Volunteers for this programme perform highly useful health and administrative activities at hospital
s and health centres
, such as providing personal support, guidance and other services for patients, as well as receiving visitors and helping nursing staff.
Participation in this programme provides frequent opportunities for volunteers to utilize their leisure time through voluntary work for people with special needs
. This develops their skills and life experience through humanitarian action, in collaboration with the various UAE centres for special needs.
This annual programme enables volunteers to list the needs of needy and disadvantage families before the beginning of the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan
, in order to provide nominated families with supplementary food, school and health needs. The volunteers also teach the culture of saving, in order to help the families to improve their living conditions.
This project was initiated as a follow up to the Takatof – Ramadan project (above) in which Takatof conducts case studies of families who have benefited from the Ramadan project, to assess their actual needs. The most recent survey was conducted by Takatof volunteers. It showed that house renovation has become the major requirement for most families living in the Northern Emirates.
This programme offers volunteers an opportunity to develop their skills and experiences outside the country, while taking part in socially responsible activities. This initiative is based on extensive cooperation with major partners who are well respected for their volunteering expertise on a global level.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. It is one of the principal initiatives of the Emirates Foundation, a charitable organisation
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
established in 2005 in the UAE under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
and the Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces. Takatof was launched in Abu Dhabi in April 2007 with an inaugural school renovation event.
Takatof is working to create a culture of volunteering
Volunteering
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...
throughout the UAE. It offers all residents of the country an opportunity to volunteer in an Emirati environment through activities that promote community involvement, national identity and citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
.
Mission
Takatof’s mission is to mobilize people and resources throughout the UAE to find creative and sustainable solutions for proven community needs. Takatof particularly offers young people meaningful opportunities to volunteer for humanitarian, social and community programmes.Objectives
In promoting volunteering, Takatof seeks participation by citizens and all those living in the UAE, with special emphasis on young people as volunteers.- Strategic initiatives: Takatof seeks collaborative opportunities with other social organizations, so as to involve volunteers in meeting important local needs.
- Building capacity: Takatof is responsible for the development and delivery of training for volunteers, agencies and the general public, through a variety of activities.
- Connecting people: Takatof acts as a clearing-house, helping to connect people with relevant volunteer opportunities across the seven Emirates.
Core Values
Takatof’s core values are at the heart of everything done including:- Commitment to social responsibility and public service.
- Adherence to strict integrity and ethics.
- Deep involvement in the community.
Takatof Projects
- Takatof for School Renovation:
This programme gives volunteers unique opportunities for semi-skilled work in revamping schools – painting, cleaning, gardening and site cleaning, as well as replacing furniture and modernizing library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
facilities. This project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi Education Council and related institutions.
- Volunteering in the Health Sector:
Volunteers for this programme perform highly useful health and administrative activities at hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and health centres
Community health center
A health center or community health center is a clinic staffed by a group of general practitioners and nurses.Community health centers in the U.S...
, such as providing personal support, guidance and other services for patients, as well as receiving visitors and helping nursing staff.
- Takatof for Special Needs:
Participation in this programme provides frequent opportunities for volunteers to utilize their leisure time through voluntary work for people with special needs
Special needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
. This develops their skills and life experience through humanitarian action, in collaboration with the various UAE centres for special needs.
- Takatof Ramadan Project:
This annual programme enables volunteers to list the needs of needy and disadvantage families before the beginning of the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, in order to provide nominated families with supplementary food, school and health needs. The volunteers also teach the culture of saving, in order to help the families to improve their living conditions.
- Takatof House Renovation Survey:
This project was initiated as a follow up to the Takatof – Ramadan project (above) in which Takatof conducts case studies of families who have benefited from the Ramadan project, to assess their actual needs. The most recent survey was conducted by Takatof volunteers. It showed that house renovation has become the major requirement for most families living in the Northern Emirates.
- Takatof International Volunteering Programme:
This programme offers volunteers an opportunity to develop their skills and experiences outside the country, while taking part in socially responsible activities. This initiative is based on extensive cooperation with major partners who are well respected for their volunteering expertise on a global level.