ABU DHABI // The Emirates Foundation’s Takatof volunteering programme has provided the opportunity to dozens of Emiratis to volunteer at Expo Milano 2015, with returning volunteers describing the experience as “life-changing”.
Over a six-month period starting on May 1, UAE national volunteers travelled in groups of 25 to spend about three weeks in Milan at the Expo 2015, where the UAE has a pavilion.
Amal Al Kuwaiti, 24, and Wafa Al Katheeri, 34, were from one of the first groups to travel to Milan.
Registering online at the Takatof website, Al Ain resident Ms Al Kuwaiti said that she has been a member of Takatof since 2010, three years after the programme was established to foster a culture of volunteering throughout the country.
“Going to Milan is a huge opportunity. Serving my country is my duty and I am very honoured to represent my home country when travelling abroad and helping people overseas,” she said.
Ms Al Kuwaiti said that she now participates in other activities as well because of her experiences with the programme.
“I take part in organising several events that take part in my city, Al Ain, such as children’s activities in many schools and special-needs centres. I love trying out new things,” she said.
“I was involved with the race circuits as one of the marshals — something that I wouldn’t have done if it wasn’t for Takatof.”
The programme even had an effect on her personality, she said.
“Volunteering means a lot to me. I used to be a very quiet person but after joining Takatof, I became involved in many social events and I had to speak my mind and give my opinion in many decisions,” she added.
Wafa Al Katheeri, 34, said that she and her friends had decided to become volunteers for the programme in 2007.
“Back then, my volunteer parts were very simple — nothing too serious,” she said.
The “real” volunteer work started in 2010, when she went to Expo Shanghai, said Ms Al Katheeri.
“I never knew I had this huge ability of giving. I thought my capabilities were minor,” she said. “Through Takatof, I realised I was capable of giving a lot — way more that I ever thought I could.”
However, at Expo Milan, Ms Al Katheeri said that the greatest obstacle for her was the “language barrier”.
“Italian people speak little English,” she said.
Despite that hurdle, she, like all the volunteers, said that “representing her country overseas is a privilege”.
“When representing our country overseas, we are all dressed in our finest traditional clothes. It was obvious to the public that we’re Arabs, and so they all approached us by greeting us with ‘asalamu alaykum’.
“I just realised how important it is to be in your best state when carrying the name of your country.”
Ms Al Katheeri said that as an Emirati ambassador, she focused on “delivering the UAE’s culture in the right way”.
“Before talking about our current achievements, I focused on taking them back to our rich heritage old days, and how we took the right steps to what we are have become now, and what we are hoping to be in the future,” she said.
Takatof said in a statement that it hopes that the Expo volunteering programme will “connect [volunteers] with relevant volunteer opportunities and encourage public service”.
“Takatof youth are ambassadors of our nation representing a culture of support and the strength of our society’s core values.”
“Volunteers from Takatof are acting as UAE ambassadors at the UAE Pavilion to represent the country’s culture and heritage positively.”
ealdhaheri@thenational.ae
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3Novices Europe
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