Over 150 volunteers help Dubai Cares launch Volunteer Emirates Program at Ajman School

The volunteers were on hand to renovate the school, painting 22 classrooms, installing brand new playground equipment and landscaping the premises.

Volunteer Emirates is the second in a series of programs introduced by Dubai Cares as part of its Volunteer Campaign, launched on 2 November, and aims to instil a sense of responsibility among the people of Dubai by encouraging them to dedicate their time, effort and skills to help those in need.

"Volunteer Emirates is designed to attract people of all ages and various backgrounds to contribute to bettering the lives of all throughout our community - the more we tap into the diversity of our people and communities, the richer our experience will become and the more we all, together, will benefit," said Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Chairperson of Dubai Cares Board of Directors.

Her Excellency added: "By renovating a school, today's volunteers are enriching a student's experience and providing outlets for children to enjoy themselves and their surroundings while they learn."

The program is an opportunity for UAE residents to work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to enrich the lives of students throughout the community by painting classrooms, renovating common areas, landscaping, and improving playgrounds at non-profit schools throughout the UAE. Volunteers can register online (www.dubaicares.ae) beginning today to guarantee their spot ahead of next weekend's intervention November 22, 2008.

Dubai Cares' Volunteer Campaign offers diverse volunteer opportunities to attract participation from all levels of the community, focusing on the benefits of volunteering in line with the charitable establishment's continuous commitment to philanthropic values.

Now considered the largest charitable establishment solely devoted to improving primary education around the world, Dubai Cares is actively addressing the educational needs of more than 4 million children globally through partnerships with international aid agencies. Dubai Cares is currently building and renovating 2,072 schools and has also trained 22,370 teachers and helped established 3,157 Parent Teacher Associations.

Dubai Cares has prioritized its Phase One grants to 12 countries that experience the highest gap in primary education. Earlier this year, Dubai Cares listed the beneficiary countries - Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Maldives, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, and Yemen, and Palestinian refugees (in Lebanon and Jordan).